Open AccessBiodiversity and composition of methanogenic populations in the rumen of cows fed alfalfa hay or triticale straw
Author(s) -
Kong Yunhong,
Xia Yun,
Seviour Robert,
Forster Robert,
McAllister Tim A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12062
Subject(s) - rumen , biology , methanogenesis , hay , microbial population biology , composition (language) , straw , triticale , euryarchaeota , zoology , food science , archaea , bacteria , agronomy , fermentation , linguistics , philosophy , genetics
It is clear that methanogens are responsible for ruminal methane emissions, but quantitative information about the composition of the methanogenic community in the bovine rumen is still limited. The diversity and composition of rumen methanogens in cows fed either alfalfa hay or triticale straw were examined using a full‐cycle r RNA approach. Quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization undertaken applying oligonucleotide probes designed here identified five major methanogenic populations or groups in these animals: the M ethanobrevibacter TMS group (consisting of M ethanobrevibacter thaueri , M ethanobrevibacter millerae and M ethanobrevibacter smithii ), M ethanbrevibacter ruminantium ‐, M ethanosphaera stadtmanae ‐, M ethanomicrobium mobile ‐, and M ethanimicrococcus ‐related methanogens. The TMS ‐ and M . ruminantium ‐related methanogens accounted for on average 46% and 41% of the total methanogenic cells in liquid ( L iq) and solid ( S ol) phases of the rumen contents, respectively. Other prominent methanogens in the L iq and S ol phases included members of M . stadtmanae (15% and 33%), M . mobile (17% and 12%), and M ethanimicrococcus (23% and 9%). The relative abundances of these methanogens in the community varied among individual animals and across diets. No clear differences in community composition could be observed with dietary change using cloning techniques. This study extends the known biodiversity levels of the methanogenic communities in the rumen of cows.