Amplicon sequencing of rumen fluid incubated over time and incubated with different seaweeds and controls

This study investigates how different seaweed substrates affect the composition and temporal dynamics of the rumen microbiota in an in vitro fermentation system. Rumen fluid from cattle was incubated under anaerobic conditions with several macroalgal materials as test substrates and with corresponding control incubations without seaweed. Bottles were sampled at multiple time points during incubation to capture short-term shifts in the microbial community associated with fermentation and gas production. Bacterial, ciliates and archaeal communities were characterised by 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.