Journal
MARINE AND FRESHWATER BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 37, Issue 2, Pages 99-107Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/1023624042000199926
Keywords
dugong; eelgrass; hindgut microorganisms; in vitro degradability; volatile fatty acids
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The number of microorganisms in the hindgut of dugongs ( Dugong dugon ) were estimated and their in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and degradation of eelgrass measured. Scanning electron microscopy showed that some rod bacteria attached to the surface of plant tissue degraded and eroded the cell walls. Number of starch-, lactate-, cellobiose-, pectin-, xylan- and cellulose-utilizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing bacteria were estimated at 10 9 similar to 10 10 colony forming units g -1 . Microorganisms degraded the cellulose and noncellulolytic components of the eelgrass, and about 47.3% of dry matter was degraded after 36 h in vitro incubation. The total VFA concentration was 10.5 mmol dL -1 at 36 h incubation, which included 55.7 mol% acetate, 18.0 mol% n -butyrate and 15.1 mol% propionate. The gas composition of in vitro fermentation was 68.4% carbon dioxide, 22.2% methane and 9.4% hydrogen.
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