ELUCIDATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUMEN MICROBIOME AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF GENOMICS

Abstract

Given the digestive nature of ruminants, these animals have evolved to obtain nutrients from lignocellulosic substrates, particularly butyrate, propionate and acetate as byproducts from the degradation of plant tissues due to the action of the ruminal microbial consortia. This microbiome is composed by bacteria, archaea, fungi and protozoa which thrive in an anoxic habitat and, although beneficial to the ruminant, produce the highest amounts of methane derived from livestock production activities. Several studies and treatments have focused in diminishing ruminal methane emissions; however, as of today there is not a viable method established that reduces the impact of livestock on climate change. This in part due to the lack of knowledge of the ruminal microbiome given the difficulty to isolate and grow these organisms in vitro conditions. Today, genomic tools allow the study of microbial consortia without the need to isolate the microorganisms. The use of metagenomics has described the ruminal microbiome structure, as well as the intrinsic and external factors that modify it. However, to understand the physiological function and activity of the microbial taxas, it will be necessary to employ other genomic tools in order to attain a holistic view of the ruminal microbiota and with that, to establish strategies that allow decreasing the generation of greenhouse gases.