Rumen microbial community composition varies with diet and host, but a core microbiome is found across a wide geographical range
Authors: Henderson Gemma , Cox Faith , Ganesh Siva , Jonker Arjan , Young Wayne ,   Global Rumen Census Collaborators, Abecia Leticia , Angarita Erika , Aravena Paula , Nora Arenas Graciela , Ariza Claudia , Attwood Graeme T. , Mauricio Avila Jose , Avila-Stagno Jorge , Bannink André , Barahona Rolando , Batistotti Mariano , Bertelsen Mads F. , Brown-Kav Aya , Carvajal Andres M. , Cersosimo Laura , Vieira Chaves Alexandre , Church John , Clipson Nicholas , Cobos-Peralta Mario A. , Cookson Adrian L. , Cravero Silvio , Cristobal Carballo Omar , Crosley Katie , Cruz Gustavo , Cerón Cucchi María , de la Barra Rodrigo , De Menezes Alexandre B. , Detmann Edenio , Dieho Kasper , Dijkstra Jan , dos Reis William L. S. , Dugan Mike E. R. , Hadi Ebrahimi Seyed , Eythórsdóttir Emma , Nde Fon Fabian , Fraga Martín , Franco Francisco , Friedeman Chris , Fukuma Naoki , Gagić Dragana , Gangnat Isabelle , Javier Grilli Diego , Guan Le Luo , Heidarian Miri Vahideh , Hernandez-Sanabria Emma , Gomez Alma Ximena Ibarra , Isah Olubukola A. , Ishaq Suzanne , Jami Elie , Jelincic Juan , Kantanen Juha , Kelly William J. , Kim Seon-Ho , Klieve Athol , Kobayashi Yasuo , Koike Satoshi , Kopecny Jan , Nygaard Kristensen Torsten , Julie Krizsan Sophie , LaChance Hannah , Lachman Medora , Lamberson William R. , Lambie Suzanne , Lassen Jan , Leahy Sinead C. , Lee Sang-Suk , Leiber Florian , Lewis Eva , Lin Bo , Lira Raúl , Lund Peter , Macipe Edgar , Mamuad Lovelia L. , Cuquetto Mantovani Hilário , Marcoppido Gisela Ariana , Márquez Cristian , Martin Cécile , Martinez Gonzalo , Eugenia Martinez Maria , Lucía Mayorga Olga , McAllister Tim A. , McSweeney Chris , Mestre Lorena , Minnee Elena , Mitsumori Makoto , Mizrahi Itzhak , Molina Isabel , Muenger Andreas , Muñoz Camila , Murovec Bostjan , Newbold John , Nsereko Victor , O’Donovan Michael , Okunade Sunday , O’Neill Brendan , Ospina Sonia , Ouwerkerk Diane , Parra Diana , Pereira Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro , Pinares-Patiño Cesar , Pope Phil B. , Poulsen Morten , Rodehutscord Markus , Rodriguez Tatiana , Saito Kunihiko , Sales Francisco , Sauer Catherine , Shingfield Kevin , Shoji Noriaki , Simunek Jiri , Stojanović-Radić Zorica , Stres Blaz , Sun Xuezhao , Swartz Jeffery , Liang Tan Zhi , Tapio Ilma , Taxis Tasia M. , Tomkins Nigel , Ungerfeld Emilio , Valizadeh Reza , van Adrichem Peter , Van Hamme Jonathan , Van Hoven Woulter , Waghorn Garry , John Wallace R. , Wang Min , Waters Sinéad M. , Keogh Kate , Witzig Maren , Wright Andre-Denis G. , Yamano Hidehisa , Yan Tianhai , Yáñez-Ruiz David R. , Yeoman Carl J. , Zambrano Ricardo , Zeitz Johanna , Zhou Mi , Wei Zhou Hua , Xia Zou Cai , Zunino Pablo , Janssen Peter H. 
Published: October 2015

Ruminant livestock are important sources of human food and global greenhouse gas emissions. Feed degradation and methane formation by ruminants rely on metabolic interactions between rumen microbes and affect ruminant productivity. Rumen and camelid foregut microbial community composition was determined in 742 samples from 32 animal species and 35 countries, to estimate if this was influenced by diet, host species, or geography. Similar bacteria and archaea dominated in nearly all samples, while protozoal communities were more variable. The dominant bacteria are poorly characterised, but the methanogenic archaea are better known and highly conserved across the world. This universality and limited diversity could make it possible to mitigate methane emissions by developing strategies that target the few dominant methanogens. Differences in microbial community compositions were predominantly attributable to diet, with the host being less influential. There were few strong co-occurrence patterns between microbes, suggesting that major metabolic interactions are non-selective rather than specific.