Digestion Of Plant Material Research Articles

Agrobiological substantiation of growing Hungarian vetch in mixed crops

The production of high-protein feed stays an integral part of the development of feed production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological characteristics of Hungarian vetch when grown in agrophytocenoses using different types of winter cereals. Changes in the chemical composition of dry matter at different microstages of growth and development were studied, and the influence on the yield, nutrient content, and digestibility of plant material was determined depending on the stages of growth and development. The study was conducted using field, laboratory, laboratory-field, and statistical methods. It was found that to reach the full flowering phase, the sum of active temperatures should be 754°C, with precipitation of about 100 mm and daylight hours of 973 h. Observations of the growing season indicate the relationship between plants and the environment, which is important to consider when growing Hungarian vetch. Vetch plants reach a height of 100-104 cm in conditions of excessive moisture. The phytocoenotic balance of such mixtures, specifically vetch of the Orlan variety and winter triticale of the Bozhych and Bohodarske varieties, ensures sustainable productivity and nutritional value of plant material. The best harvesting time for high quality vetch is from the beginning to the middle of flowering, which ensures a crude protein content of 17-20% in dry matter. The effectiveness of mixed phytocoenoses has been confirmed by ecological tests of crop combination models in different soil and climatic zones of Ukraine, where yields of 36.2-51.8 t/ha of green mass and 7.1-11.5 t/ ha of dry matter were obtained over the years of use. The creation of a mixed crop allows producing high-quality plant material that is superior in energy and protein content to conventional vetch and oat mixtures. It was recommended to create such mixtures by sowing 2.5 mln/ha of cereal and 2.1 mln/ha of leguminous components after applying N45P45K45 to form a crop with high digestibility and nutrition. The system of mixed cropping of Hungarian vetch is promising for the production of silage and high-quality haylage in the face of climate change and as a precursor for post-cutting sowing of maize or sorghum crops

Diversity and community structure of anaerobic gut fungi in the rumen of wild and domesticated herbivores.

The rumen houses a diverse community that plays a major role in the digestion process in ruminants. Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) are key contributors to plant digestion in the rumen. Here, we present a global amplicon-based survey of the rumen AGF mycobiome by examining 206 samples from 15 animal species, 15 countries, and 6 continents. The rumen AGF mycobiome was highly diverse, with 81 out of 88 currently recognized AGF genera or candidate genera identified. However, only six genera (Neocallimastix, Orpinomyces, Caecomyces, Cyllamyces, NY9, and Piromyces) were present at >4% relative abundance. AGF diversity was higher in members of the families Antilocapridae and Cervidae compared to Bovidae. Community structure analysis identified a pattern of phylosymbiosis, where host family (10% of total variance) and species (13.5%) partially explained the rumen mycobiome composition. As well, diet composition (9%-19%), domestication (11.14%), and biogeography (14.1%) also partially explained AGF community structure; although sampling limitation, geographic range restrictions, and direct association between different factors hindered accurate elucidation of the relative contribution of each factor. Pairwise comparison of rumen and fecal samples obtained from the same subject (n = 13) demonstrated greater diversity and inter-sample variability in rumen versus fecal samples. The genera Neocallimastix and Orpinomyces were present in higher abundance in rumen samples, while Cyllamyces and Caecomyces were enriched in fecal samples. Comparative analysis of global rumen and feces data sets revealed a similar pattern. Our results provide a global view of AGF community in the rumen and identify patterns of AGF variability between rumen and feces in herbivores Gastrointestinal (GI) tract.IMPORTANCERuminants are highly successful and economically important mammalian suborder. Ruminants are herbivores that digest plant material with the aid of microorganisms residing in their GI tract. In ruminants, the rumen compartment represents the most important location where microbially mediated plant digestion occurs, and is known to house a bewildering array of microbial diversity. An important component of the rumen microbiome is the anaerobic gut fungi (AGF), members of the phylum Neocallimastigomycota. So far, studies examining AGF diversity have mostly employed fecal samples, and little is currently known regarding the identity of AGF residing in the rumen compartment, factors that impact the observed patterns of diversity and community structure of AGF in the rumen, and how AGF communities in the rumen compare to AGF communities in feces. Here, we examined the rumen AGF diversity using an amplicon-based survey targeting a wide range of wild and domesticated ruminants (n = 206, 15 different animal species) obtained from 15 different countries. Our results demonstrate that while highly diverse, no new AGF genera were identified in the rumen mycobiome samples examined. Our analysis also indicate that animal host phylogeny, diet, biogeography, and domestication status could play a role in shaping AGF community structure. Finally, we demonstrate that a greater level of diversity and higher inter-sample variability was observed in rumen compared to fecal samples, with two genera (Neocallimastix and Orpinomyces) present in higher abundance in rumen samples, and two others (Cyllamyces and Caecomyces) enriched in fecal samples. Our results provide a global view of the identity, diversity, and community structure of AGF in ruminants, elucidate factors impacting diversity and community structure of the rumen mycobiome, and identify patterns of AGF community variability between the rumen and feces in the herbivorous GI tract.

Functional similarity, despite taxonomical divergence in the millipede gut microbiota, points to a common trophic strategy

BackgroundMany arthropods rely on their gut microbiome to digest plant material, which is often low in nitrogen but high in complex polysaccharides. Detritivores, such as millipedes, live on a particularly poor diet, but the identity and nutritional contribution of their microbiome are largely unknown. In this study, the hindgut microbiota of the tropical millipede Epibolus pulchripes (large, methane emitting) and the temperate millipede Glomeris connexa (small, non-methane emitting), fed on an identical diet, were studied using comparative metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.ResultsThe results showed that the microbial load in E. pulchripes is much higher and more diverse than in G. connexa. The microbial communities of the two species differed significantly, with Bacteroidota dominating the hindguts of E. pulchripes and Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota) in G. connexa. Despite equal sequencing effort, de novo assembly and binning recovered 282 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from E. pulchripes and 33 from G. connexa, including 90 novel bacterial taxa (81 in E. pulchripes and 9 in G. connexa). However, despite this taxonomic divergence, most of the functions, including carbohydrate hydrolysis, sulfate reduction, and nitrogen cycling, were common to the two species. Members of the Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes) were the primary agents of complex carbon degradation in E. pulchripes, while members of Proteobacteria dominated in G. connexa. Members of Desulfobacterota were the potential sulfate-reducing bacteria in E. pulchripes. The capacity for dissimilatory nitrate reduction was found in Actinobacteriota (E. pulchripes) and Proteobacteria (both species), but only Proteobacteria possessed the capacity for denitrification (both species). In contrast, some functions were only found in E. pulchripes. These include reductive acetogenesis, found in members of Desulfobacterota and Firmicutes (Bacillota) in E. pulchripes. Also, diazotrophs were only found in E. pulchripes, with a few members of the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria expressing the nifH gene. Interestingly, fungal-cell-wall-degrading glycoside hydrolases (GHs) were among the most abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) expressed in both millipede species, suggesting that fungal biomass plays an important role in the millipede diet.ConclusionsOverall, these results provide detailed insights into the genomic capabilities of the microbial community in the hindgut of millipedes and shed light on the ecophysiology of these essential detritivores.6T24awGbkoVb6oAp62-bVTVideo

Physiological and genomic characterization of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from Indri indri in Madagascar.

Indri indri is a lemur of Madagascar which is Critically Endangered. The analysis of the microbial ecology of the intestine offers tools to improve conservation efforts. This study aimed to achieve a functional genomic analysis of three Lp. plantarum isolates from indris. Samples were obtained from 18 indri; 3 isolates of Lp. plantarum were obtained from 2 individuals. The three isolates were closely related to each other, with fewer than 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms, suggesting that the two individuals shared diet-associated microbes. The genomes of the three isolates were compared to 96 reference strains of Lp. plantarum. The three isolates of Lp. plantarum were not phenotypically resistant to antibiotics but shared all 17 genes related to antimicrobial resistance that are part of the core genome of Lp. plantarum. Genomes of the three indri isolates of Lp. plantarum also encoded for the 6 core genome genes coding for enzymes related to metabolism of hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. The phenotype for metabolism of hydroxycinnamic acids by indri isolates of Lp. plantarum matched the genotype. Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes and gene coding for metabolism of phenolic compounds were identified in the genomes of the indri isolates, suggesting that Lp. plantarum maintains antimicrobial resistance in defense of antimicrobial plant secondary pathogens and that their metabolism by intestinal bacteria aids digestion of plant material by primate hosts.

APPLICATION OF NEMATODE DERIVED ENZYMES IN INDUSTRIES-A REVIEW

A nematode is a roundworm, a member of the phylum Nematoda. They are the most abundant multicellular animals on Earth, with over 28,000 known species. Nematodes can be found in almost all environments, including soil, water, plants, animals, and even the human body. There are many enzymes that have been derived from nematodes like Cellulase, Amylase, Pectinase, Lignin Digesting enzymes, Hemicellulase etc. These enzymes are important for a variety of industrial and agricultural applications. They are used to make food, paper, biofuels, and bioplastics. They are also used to improve the digestibility of plant material for livestock. These enzymes are essential for the breakdown of plant cell walls, which makes it possible to use these materials for a variety of purposes. Cellulase is used to make biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. It is also used to make paper, textiles, and bioplastics. Amylase is used to make bread, beer, and other food products. It is also used to make industrial chemicals, such as glucose syrup and starch acetate. Pectinase is used to make fruit juices and wine. It is also used to make textiles and other industrial products. Lignin-digesting enzymes are used to make paper, biofuels, and bioplastics. They are also used to treat soil contamination and to improve the digestibility of plant material for livestock. Hemicellulase is used to make food, paper, and biofuels. It is also used to improve the digestibility of plant material for livestock.

The Hoatzin

Joel Cracraft introduces the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), an odd and enigmatic bird that defies classification.

A global meta‐analysis of temperature effects on marine fishes’ digestion across trophic groups

AbstractAimThe temperature constraint hypothesis proposes that marine herbivorous fishes are rare at high latitudes relative to carnivorous fishes because low temperatures impair the digestion of plant material. To test this hypothesis, we compared the effects of temperature on the digestive performance and investment in digestion of marine fishes across trophic groups.LocationGlobal marine ecosystems.Major taxa studiedMarine fishes.MethodsWe analysed data from 304 species consuming a range of diets to quantify the effects of temperature on three indicators of digestive performance and investment: gut passage time, absorption efficiency, and gut length.ResultsDecreasing temperatures increase gut passage time in fishes consuming macroalgae more than fishes consuming other fish or invertebrates. Low temperatures do not impair absorption efficiency in fishes regardless of diet, but herbivores have lower absorption efficiencies than carnivores overall. Gut length decreases with decreasing temperature in all trophic groups.Main conclusionsOur analyses reveal limited evidence to support the temperature constraint hypothesis. Low temperatures slow digestion more in fishes consuming macroalgae than those consuming animal prey; however, this may not reflect a meaningful disadvantage for herbivores but rather could be explained by greater representation of fishes relying on microbial fermentation at high latitudes. Herbivorous fishes absorb nutrients and energy from their food in similar proportions regardless of temperature, in contrast to the expectations of the temperature constraint hypothesis. Decreased gut length was associated with decreasing temperature across all trophic groups, likely due to improved food quality at high latitudes, which should benefit all trophic groups by reducing their required investment in gut tissues. Altogether, our findings run counter to the general hypothesis that low temperatures disadvantage the digestion of plant material and suppress the diversity and abundance of herbivorous fishes at high latitudes.

Horizontally acquired antibacterial genes associated with adaptive radiation of ladybird beetles

BackgroundHorizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been documented in many herbivorous insects, conferring the ability to digest plant material and promoting their remarkable ecological diversification. Previous reports suggest HGT of antibacterial enzymes may have contributed to the insect immune response and limit bacterial growth. Carnivorous insects also display many evolutionary successful lineages, but in contrast to the plant feeders, the potential role of HGTs has been less well-studied.ResultsUsing genomic and transcriptomic data from 38 species of ladybird beetles, we identified a set of bacterial cell wall hydrolase (cwh) genes acquired by this group of beetles. Infection with Bacillus subtilis led to upregulated expression of these ladybird cwh genes, and their recombinantly produced proteins limited bacterial proliferation. Moreover, RNAi-mediated cwh knockdown led to downregulation of other antibacterial genes, indicating a role in antibacterial immune defense. cwh genes are rare in eukaryotes, but have been maintained in all tested Coccinellinae species, suggesting that this putative immune-related HGT event played a role in the evolution of this speciose subfamily of predominant predatory ladybirds.ConclusionOur work demonstrates that, in a manner analogous to HGT-facilitated plant feeding, enhanced immunity through HGT might have played a key role in the prey adaptation and niche expansion that promoted the diversification of carnivorous beetle lineages. We believe that this represents the first example of immune-related HGT in carnivorous insects with an association with a subsequent successful species radiation.

Metagenomic insights into the diversity of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes in the yak fecal microbial community

BackgroundYaks are able to utilize the gastrointestinal microbiota to digest plant materials. Although the cellulolytic bacteria in the yak rumen have been reported, there is still limited information on the diversity of the major microorganisms and putative carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes for the degradation of complex lignocellulosic biomass in its gut ecosystem.ResultsHere, this study aimed to decode biomass-degrading genes and genomes in the yak fecal microbiota using deep metagenome sequencing. A comprehensive catalog comprising 4.5 million microbial genes from the yak feces were established based on metagenomic assemblies from 92 Gb sequencing data. We identified a full spectrum of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, three-quarters of which were assigned to highly diversified enzyme families involved in the breakdown of complex dietary carbohydrates, including 120 families of glycoside hydrolases, 25 families of polysaccharide lyases, and 15 families of carbohydrate esterases. Inference of taxonomic assignments to the carbohydrate-degrading genes revealed the major microbial contributors were Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Prevotellaceae. Furthermore, 68 prokaryotic genomes were reconstructed and the genes encoding glycoside hydrolases involved in plant-derived polysaccharide degradation were identified in these uncultured genomes, many of which were novel species with lignocellulolytic capability.ConclusionsOur findings shed light on a great diversity of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes in the yak gut microbial community and uncultured species, which provides a useful genetic resource for future studies on the discovery of novel enzymes for industrial applications.

Rapid Dietary Shift in Podarcis siculus Resulted in Localized Changes in Gut Function.

AbstractNatural dietary shifts offer the opportunity to address the nutritional physiological characters required to thrive on a particular diet. Here, we studied the nutritional physiology of Podarcis siculus, with populations on Pod Mrčaru, Croatia, that have become omnivorous and morphologically distinct (including the development of valves in the hindgut) from their insectivorous source population on Pod Kopište. We compared gut structure and function between the two island populations of this lizard species and contrasted them with an insectivorous mainland out-group population in Zagreb. On the basis of the adaptive modulation hypothesis, we predicted changes in gut size and structure, digestive enzyme activities, microbial fermentation products (short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs]), and plant material digestibility concomitant with this dietary change. The Pod Mrčaru population had heavier guts than the mainland population, but there were no other differences in gut structure. Most of the enzymatic differences we detected were between the island populations and the out-group population. The Pod Mrčaru lizards had higher amylase and trehalase activities in their hindguts compared with the Pod Kopište population, and the Pod Kopište lizards had greater SCFA concentrations in their hindguts than the omnivorous Pod Mrčaru population. Interestingly, the differences between the Pod Mrčaru and Pod Kopište populations are primarily localized to the hindgut and are likely influenced by microbial communities and a higher food intake by the Pod Mrčaru lizards. Although subtle, the changes in hindgut digestive physiology impact the digestibility of plant material in adult lizards-Pod Mrčaru lizards had higher digestibility of herbivorous and omnivorous diets fed over several weeks in the laboratory than did their source population.

Comparative genomics reveals bamboo feeding adaptability in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the world’s most endangered mammals and remains threatened as a result of intense environmental and anthropogenic pressure. The transformation and specialization of the giant panda’s diet into a herbivorous diet have resulted in unique adaptabilities in many aspects of their biology, physiology and behavior. However, little is known about their adaptability at the molecular level. Through comparative analysis of the giant panda’s genome with those of nine other mammalian species, we found some genetic characteristics of the giant panda that can be associated with adaptive changes for effective digestion of plant material. We also found that giant pandas have similar genetic characteristics to carnivores in terms of olfactory perception but have similar genetic characteristics to herbivores in terms of immunity and hydrolytic enzyme activity. Through the analysis of gene family expansion, 3752 gene families were found, which were enriched in functions such as digestion. A total of 93 genes under positive selection were screened out and gene enrichment identified these genes for the following processes: negative regulation of cellular metabolic process, negative regulation of nitrogen compound metabolic process, negative regulation of macromolecule metabolic process and negative regulation of metabolic process. Combined with the KEGG pathway, it was found that genes such as CREB3L1, CYP450 2S1, HSD11B2, LRPAP1 play a key role in digestion. These genes may have played a key role in the pandas’ adaptation to its bamboo diet.

Interactions between social groups of colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus) explain similarities in their gut microbiomes

The gut microbiome is structured by social groups in a variety of host taxa. Whether this pattern is driven by relatedness, similar diets or shared social environments is under debate because few studies have had access to the data necessary to disentangle these factors in wild populations. We investigated whether diet, relatedness or the 1 m proximity network best explains differences in the gut microbiome among 45 female colobus monkeys in eight social groups residing at Boabeng-Fiema, Ghana. We combined demographic and behavioural data collected during May – August 2007 and October 2008 – April 2009 with 16S rRNA sequencing of faecal samples collected during the latter part of each observation period. Depending on the beta diversity index, social group identity explained 19–28% of the variation in gut microbiome beta diversity. When comparing the predictive power of dietary dissimilarity, relatedness and connectedness in the 1 m proximity network, the models with social connectedness received the strongest support, even in our analyses that excluded within-group dyads. This novel finding indicates that microbes may be transmitted during intergroup encounters, which could occur either indirectly via shared environments or directly via social contact. Lastly, some of the gut microbial taxa that appear to be transmitted via 1 m proximity are associated with digestion of plant material. Further research is needed to investigate whether this type of gut microbe transmission yields health benefits, which could provide an incentive for the formation and maintenance of social bonds within and between social groups.

Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility of Cd in Low and High Cd Uptake Affinity Cultivars of Brassica rapa ssp. Chinensis L. (Pakchoi) using an In vitro Gastrointestinal and Physiologically-based Extraction Test

ABSTRACT In vitro oral bioaccessibility of Cadmium (Cd) in two low (XGSJ), (SHQI) and two high (CGBC), (SIYM) Cd-accumulating affinity cultivars of Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis L. (pak choi) grown on Cd-contaminated Alfisol soil was assessed. In this study, physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and in vitro gastrointestinal (IVG) were chosen to assess the bioaccessibility for Cd by stimulating human digestion of plant material. The pak choi cultivars were grown on Cd-contaminated soil with six different Cd concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mg kg−1). The phytoavailability of Cd in soils was also measured through Mehlich-3 extraction and sequential extraction method. Plants were harvested and analyzed for their total Cd content and afterward extracted using PBET and IVG to provide the estimate of oral bioaccessibility for the human health risks of metal contamination in pak choi.

The Principal Salivary Gland Is the Primary Source of Digestive Enzymes in the Saliva of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive, phytophagous stink bug of global importance for agriculture. Tissue-specific transcriptomic analysis of the accessory salivary gland, principal salivary gland (PSG) and gut resulted in identification of 234 putative protease and 166 putative nuclease sequences. By mapping the previously reported proteomes of H. halys watery saliva (WS) and sheath saliva to protein sequences translated from the assembled transcripts, 22 proteases and two nucleases in the saliva were identified. Of these, 19 proteases and both nucleases were present in the WS. The majority of proteases and nucleases found in WS were derived from the PSG, in line with ultrastructural observations, which suggest active protein synthesis and secretion by this tissue. The highly transcribed digestive proteases and nucleases of H. halys were similar to those of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, indicating that these pentatomid stink bugs utilize a similar suite of proteases and nucleases for digestion of plant material. The comprehensive data set for the H. halys salivary glands and gut generated by this study provides an additional resource for further understanding of the biology of this pestiferous species.

Maize Silage Digestate Application Affecting Germination and Early Growth of Maize Modulated by Soil Type

During biogas production anaerobic digestion of plant material produces a nutrient-rich residue called digestate. The application of the nutrients present in the digestate should improve soil fertility, particularly in nutrient poor soils, and thus crop yield, promoting the closure of the nutrient cycle. This study evaluated the effect of digestate application on the germination and early stages of plant development since these are the first steps to be considered when studying the benefits on plant growth in low fertility substrates. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of three substrates of different texture and fertility (field loam, field sand, sand), as well as type and amount of fertilizer (pure maize digestate vs. inorganic nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium (NPK) fertilizer) on both germination and early plant performance of maize (Zea mays L. subsp. mays). While digestate and NPK fertilizer applications had no significant effect on germination in the two field soils, digestate applications significantly decreased the germination rate in sand (36–82% reduction) due to an increase of surface water repellency. In contrast, for aboveground biomass yield, the most positive fertilization effects of digestate application were found on sand (up to 3.5 times the biomass of the unamended control) followed by field sand (1.5 times), compared to no effect for field loam. Our findings suggest that digestate application have positive fertilization effects in low-fertility substrates, similar to NPK, even though digestate application may have a negative impact on the permeability in sandy substrates that could interfere with germination.

Developmental symbiosis facilitates the multiple origins of herbivory.

Developmental bias toward particular evolutionary trajectories can be facilitated through symbiosis. Organisms are holobionts, consisting of zygote-derived cells and a consortia of microbes, and the development, physiology, and immunity of animals are properties of complex interactions between the zygote-derived cells and microbial symbionts. Such symbionts can be agents of developmental plasticity, allowing an organism to develop in particular directions. This plasticity can lead to genetic assimilation either through the incorporation of microbial genes into host genomes or through the direct maternal transmission of the microbes. Such plasticity can lead to niche construction, enabling the microbes to remodel host anatomy and/or physiology. In this article, I will focus on the ability of symbionts to bias development toward the evolution of herbivory. I will posit that the behavioral and morphological manifestations of herbivorous phenotypes must be preceded by the successful establishment of a community of symbiotic microbes that can digest cell walls and detoxify plant poisons. The ability of holobionts to digest plant materials can range from being a plastic trait, dependent on the transient incorporation of environmental microbes, to becoming a heritable trait of the holobiont organism, transmitted through the maternal propagation of symbionts or their genes.

Guaiacol oxidation activity of herbivorous land crabs, Chiromantes haematocheir and Chiromantes dehaani

The land crabs, Chiromantes haematocheir (Akate-gani) and Chiromantesdehaani (Kurobenkei-gani) inhabit seaside forests in Japan. The crabs mainly consume plant material and its detritus. Therefore, they are expected to possess the ability to degrade the major components of biomass, cellulose and lignin in order to digest plant materials. In this study, we analyzed biomass-degrading activities of the land crabs, especially guaiacol oxidation activity, which seems to be related to lignin degradation. Cellulase activity was detected from almost all gut samples including the stomach, midgut gland and intestine of all dissected crabs. Conversely, high guaiacol oxidation activity was detected in the midgut gland of all C.dehaani and several female C.haematocheir crabs. This is consistent with a previous study showing that female crabs were more herbivorous than male crabs were and observation that C.dehaani crabs are more herbivorous than C.haematocheir. Guaiacol oxidation activity might play an important role in the herbivorous behavior of land crabs.

Ex-vivo Anaerobic Digestion of Non-Palatable Pastoral Plant Toward Non-traditional Animal Feed

It is forecasted that by the end of 2025, 2.2 billion tons waste, including the non-palatable plants, will be generated annually. This is a foreseeable concern for the public health and the economy. Accordingly, waste management programs, including for the unused, unacceptable, or unpalatable plants, have been initiated worldwide. The aim of this study was to process an ex-vivo anaerobic digestion of the non-palatable pastoral plant to produce non-traditional animal feed. Five plants were selected for the present study, namely, Aerva javanica, Capparis cartilaginea, Ochradenus baccatus, Salvadora persica, and Senna alexandrina. These plants were collected from the endangered pasture from the Al-Baha region of the south west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The collected plants were shredded into small pieces, and were subjected for the anaerobic digestion at 20oC, 30oC, and 40oC for 90 days. The evaluation of plant acceptability was achieved by observing the animals and the quantity of the digested plant material consumed by the animals. The results of the plant acceptability were very promising with respect to O. baccatus, S. persica and S. alexandrina. Good acceptability upto 100% was observed for the digested material of these plants at all the studied temperatures, 20oC, 30oC, and 40oC. It is concluded that similar studies should be carried out in other regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at large scale and on a large number of non palatable pastoral plants.

Exploring the Spatial-Temporal Microbiota of Compound Stomachs in a Pre-weaned Goat Model.

Ruminant animals possess a characteristic four-compartment stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) that is specialized for pre-intestinal digestion of plant materials. Of these four compartments, the rumen is the largest. The rumen’s diverse microbial community has been well studied. However, the current understanding of microbial profiles in the reticulum, omasum and abomasum are lacking. In the present study, fluid samples from the reticulum, omasum, and abomasum of goats at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 days after birth, as well as the negative controls (NC) used for microbial DNA extraction, were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. By filtering operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in NC, distinct temporal distributions of microbes were observed in the different compartments, we showed that the OTUs in control samples had a large effect to the samples with low microbial density. In addition, Proteobacteria gradually decreased with age from days 3 to 56 in all three compartments, and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes increased from 24.15% (Day 3) to 52.03% (Day 56) in abomasum. Network analysis revealed that Prevotellaceae_UGG-03 and Rikenellaceae_RC9 were positively correlated with Prevotella_1, lending support to the well understood fact that cellulose is well digested in compound stomachs prior to the rumen. Pathway analysis revealed that gene expression in abomasum at Day 3 were primarily related to Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis and Pyruvate metabolism, suggesting that colostrum digestion is the dominant function of the abomasum at an early age. These findings combined with other recent rumen microbiota data show that the microbiome landscape represents three distinct stages in ruminant stomachs. The first stage is to gain access to external microorganisms at Day 0–14, the secondary stage is for microbial transition at Day 14–28, and the third stage is for exogenous and endogenous microbial colonization beyond Day 28 of age. Our results provide insight into microbiota dynamics in ruminant stomachs, and will facilitate efforts for the maintenance of gastrointestinal balance and intervention with starter diets in juvenile ruminants during early development.

Pollination implications of the diverse diet of tropical nectar-feeding bats roosting in an urban cave.

BackgroundIntense landscaping often alters the plant composition in urban areas. Knowing which plant species that pollinators are visiting in urban areas is necessary for understanding how landscaping impacts biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. The cave nectar bat, Eonycteris spelaea, is an important pollinator for many plants and is often recorded in human-dominated habitats. Previous studies of the diet of E. spelaea relied on morphological identification of pollen grains found in faeces and on the body of bats and by necessity disregarded other forms of digested plant material present in the faeces (i.e., plant juice and remnants). The main objective of this study was to examine the diet of the nectarivorous bat, E. spelaea, roosting in an urban cave at Batu Caves, Peninsular Malaysia by identifying the plant material present in the faeces of bats using DNA metabarcoding.MethodsFaeces were collected under the roost of E. spelaea once a week from December 2015 to March 2016. Plant DNA was extracted from the faeces, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified at ITS2 and rbcL regions and mass sequenced. The resultant plant operational taxonomic units were searched against NCBI GenBank for identification.ResultsA total of 55 species of plants were detected from faeces of E. spelaea including Artocarpus heterophyllus, Duabanga grandiflora and Musa spp. which are likely to be important food resources for the cave nectar bat.DiscussionMany native plant species that had not been reported in previous dietary studies of E. spelaea were detected in this study including Bauhinia strychnoidea and Urophyllum leucophlaeum, suggesting that E. spelaea remains a crucial pollinator for these plants even in highly disturbed habitats. The detection of many introduced plant species in the bat faeces indicates that E. spelaea are exploiting them, particularly Xanthostemon chrysanthus, as food resources in urban area. Commercial food crops were detected from all of the faecal samples, suggesting that E. spelaea feed predominantly on the crops particularly jackfruit and banana and play a significant role in pollination of economically important plants. Ferns and figs were also detected in the faeces of E. spelaea suggesting future research avenues to determine whether the ‘specialised nectarivorous’ E. spelaea feed opportunistically on other parts of plants.