The researchers found that reproductively successful females had less diversity in the types of microbial species in their gut microbiome compared to the unsuccessful ones. However, the differences in bacterial populations in the reproductively successful versus unsuccessful adults provided clear evidence of the critical role of the microbiome in reproductive processes.
The analysis revealed important differences between animals in each age group, suggesting that microbial communities in the gut microbiome change predictably as the animals grow, reflecting changes in their diet and behavior. What the researchers discoveredīy extracting and sequencing DNA from the fecal samples, the experts identified the diversity and abundance of bacteria in the gut of the female rhinos. “We wanted to have a robust sample size that would allow us to assess the gut microbiome of females in this species while accounting for age, the time of year and reproductive status,” Burnham explained. The examined population consisted of two juveniles, two “subadults” that are no longer nursing but have not yet reached reproductive age, two adults that have managed to reproduce successfully, and two that have not reproduced successfully. To clarify these issues, the scientists collected multiple fecal samples from eight female southern white rhinos during a period of six months. We wanted to know how the gut microbiome may influence the reproductive ability of these rhinos.” How the research was conducted It is critical we understand why, as the managed rhinos serve as important assurance populations in case wild rhino numbers continue to fall. “There is a significant population of southern white rhinos under human care in the United States, but there have been challenges in getting many of these animals to reproduce successfully.
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