Species and individual rhinoceros affect the bacterial communities, metabolites, and nutrient composition in faeces from Southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor) and Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) under managed care.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota are essential to nutrient metabolism and the maintenance of hindgut health. The characterization of faecal bacterial communities from healthy individuals is important for the establishment of baseline data that can be compared to periods of gut dysbiosis. Diet is a key determinant of the faecal microbial community structure and generation of volatile fatty acids, a main energy source for the host. While rhinoceroses are herbivores, black rhinoceroses are browsers and white rhinoceroses are grazers. The objective of our study was to characterize and compare diets, faecal bacterial communities, nutrients and metabolites between and amongst Southern white rhinoceroses and Southern black rhinoceroses (n = 3 rhinos/species) managed at Disney's Animal Kingdom^® . Faecal

SUBMITTER: Cersosimo LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9292196 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature