Abstract
BackgroundMethanogens that populate the gastrointestinal tract of livestock ruminants contribute significantly to methane emissions from the agriculture industry. There is a great need to analyze archaeal microbiomes from a broad range of host species in order to establish causal relationships between the structure of methanogen communities and their potential for methane emission. In this report, we present an investigation of methanogenic archaeal populations in the foregut of alpacas.ResultsWe constructed individual 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from five sampled animals and recovered a total of 947 sequences which were assigned to 51 species-level OTUs. Individuals were found to each have between 21 and 27 OTUs, of which two to six OTUs were unique. As reported in other host species, Methanobrevibacter was the dominant genus in the alpaca, representing 88.3% of clones. However, the alpaca archaeal microbiome was different from other reported host species, as clones showing species-level identity to Methanobrevibacter millerae were the most abundant.ConclusionFrom our analysis, we propose a model to describe the population structure of Methanobrevibacter-related methanogens in the alpaca and in previously reported host species, which may contribute in unraveling the complexity of symbiotic archaeal communities in herbivores.
Highlights
Methanogens that populate the gastrointestinal tract of livestock ruminants contribute significantly to methane emissions from the agriculture industry
Clones were unevenly distributed between operational taxonomic units (OTU), with 80.8% of sequences grouped within OTUs 1-10, compared with
We found that 37 OTUs, representing 88.3% of clones isolated from our combined libraries, displayed 95% or greater genus-level sequence identity to species belonging to Methanobrevibacter, making it the dominant genus in the microbial community of the alpaca forestomach (Table 3)
Summary
Methanogens that populate the gastrointestinal tract of livestock ruminants contribute significantly to methane emissions from the agriculture industry. Enteric methane emitted by livestock species is produced by symbiotic methanogens which use as substrates the CO 2 and H 2 that result from digestion of plant fibers in the gastrointestinal tract of their host Because it is not assimilated, methane is released into the environment, mostly through eructation [1]. Since this process results in a loss of energy from the host [2], reducing methane emissions would be beneficial for climate control, and for enhancing livestock efficiency and productivity. A number of studies using culture-independent methods such as 16S rRNA gene identification have revealed that a great diversity of methanogens populate the rumen, which vary depending on factors such as host species and diet [3].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
