Projections indicate that the global urban population is anticipated to reach 67.2% by 2050, accompanied by a threefold increase in urban built-up areas worldwide. Urbanization has profoundly transformed Earth’s natural environment, notably characterized by the drastic reduction and fragmentation of wildlife habitats. These changes contribute to local species extinction, leading to biodiversity loss and profoundly impacting ecological processes and regional sustainable development. However, within urban settings, certain ‘generalist’ species demonstrate survival capabilities contingent upon phenotypic plasticity. The co-evolution of gut microbiota with their hosts emerges as a key driver of this phenotypic plasticity. The presence of diverse gut microbiota constitutes a crucial adaptive mechanism essential for enabling hosts to adjust to rapid environmental shifts. This review comprehensively explores amniote gut microbial changes in the context of urbanization, examining potential drivers of these changes (including diet and environmental pollutants) and their potential consequences for host health (such as physiology, metabolism, immune function, and susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious diseases). Ultimately, the implications of the gut microbiome are highlighted for elucidating key issues in ecology and evolution. This understanding is expected to enhance our comprehension of species adaptation in the Anthropocene.

Emerging infectious diseases, driven by increasing interactions among humans, wildlife, and livestock, pose an escalating threat to global health, biodiversity, and economies. As a flagship endangered species, the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation in China. This review synthesizes current knowledge on pathogens threatening giant panda health, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites alongside their potential transmission pathways within nature reserves. We emphasize the roles of domesticated animals, sympatric wildlife, and ectoparasites as reservoir hosts or vectors. Special focus is placed on cross‐species transmission dynamics and the critical need for integrated monitoring systems utilizing metagenomics and viromics. We propose a framework for establishing early warning systems and surveillance networks at the domestic‐wild animal interface to enhance pathogen detection, disease prevention, and biodiversity conservation.

Emerging infectious diseases, driven by increasing interactions among humans, wildlife, and livestock pose an escalating threat to global health, biodiversity, and economies. As a flagship endangered species, the giant panda plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation in China. This review synthesizes current knowledge on pathogens threatening giant panda health, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites alongside their potential transmission pathways within nature reserves. We emphasize the roles of domesticated animals, sympatric wildlife, and ectoparasites as reservoir hosts or vectors. Special focus is placed on cross-species transmission dynamics and the critical need for integrated monitoring systems utilizing metagenomics and viromics. We propose a framework for establishing early warning systems and surveillance networks at the domestic-wild animal interface to enhance pathogen detection, disease prevention, and biodiversity conservation.