The anaerobic rumen fungi

Description

Ruminants are characterized by the ability of microbes in the rumen to convert cellulosic feed into volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and proteins that meet the nutritional needs of the animal. Major advances in analytical techniques and genomics have transformed our understanding of rumen microbiology. This understanding is of critical importance to livestock production since rumen function affects nutritional efficiency, environmentally-damaging emissions from ruminants (such as methane and nitrous oxide) as well as animal health. Understanding and optimizing the function of rumen microbiota opens up the possibility of higher feed efficiency with fewer negative metabolic and environmental effects. This collection reviews what we know about rumen microbiota and the role of nutritional strategies in optimizing their function for more sustainable livestock production. The focus is on dairy cattle.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 The life cycle of anaerobic fungi 3 Taxonomy and morphological features of anaerobic fungi 4 Genera and species of anaerobic fungi 5 Monocentric genera 6 Polycentric genera 7 Bulbous genera 8 Genomics of anaerobic fungi 9 Meta-omics of anaerobic fungi 10 Interactions between rumen fungi and other components of the rumen ecosystem 11 Conclusion 12 Where to look for further information 13 References