Rumen methanogenesis is accomplished mostly through the conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane by methanogenic ruminal archaea which are part of the highly complex rumen microbiota. This microbiota, composed of archaea, protozoa, fungi and bacteria enables the ruminant to digest plant fiber.
The composition and structure of the rumen microbiota is thought to be influenced by several factors, among diet is considered to play an important role. However, the effect of diet on rumen methanogenic archaea remains obscure.
In the current study, I sought to better elucidate the relationships between diet and the rumen methanogenic communities. I used real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and pyrosequencing techniques to determine the composition and changes in the methanogenic populations over time under two extreme diets.
