Effect of collection and storage methods on ground squirrel gut microbiome

This project seeks to validate methods for collection and storage of fecal samples for gut microbiome analysis in free-living California ground squirrels. Replicate fecal samples were collected from 12 adult female ground squirrels either from soil or a plastic tub during handling, and were stored either directly in liquid nitrogen or in coolers on ice packs until transfer to -80C with the goal of ensuring fecal samples did not become contaminated or degraded using these different methods.