Diversity of methanogens in the hindgut of captive white rhinoceroses, Ceratotherium simum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The white rhinoceros is on the verge of extinction with less than 20,200 animals remaining in the wild. In order to better protect these endangered animals, it is necessary to better understand their digestive physiology and nutritional requirements. The gut microbiota is nutritionally important for herbivorous animals. However, little is known about the microbial diversity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the white rhinoceros. Methanogen diversity in the GIT may be host species-specific and, or, function-dependent. To assess methanogen diversity in the hindgut of white rhinoceroses, an archaeal 16S rRNA gene clone library was constructed from pooled PCR products obtained from the feces of seven adult animals.

Results

Sequence analysis of 153 archaeal 16S rR

SUBMITTER: Luo YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3846858 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature