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Examining the gut microbiota of the American black bear (Ursus americanus)
Sean O’Neill
Abstract
This study provides insight into the unexplored hindgut microbiome of the
American black bear. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been conducted to
examine the intestinal anaerobic microbiota for any bear species within the United
States, making this examination the first of its kind, and serving as a benchmark for any
future investigations in similar areas of research. Through collaboration with the
Vermont Bear Hound Association, fecal samples were taken from six different black
bears, DNA was extracted using the repeated bead beating plus column (RBB+C)
method, and sent to Molecular Research DNA (Stillwater, TX) for pyrosequencing. Of the
six samples sequenced, the preliminary data showed the phyla
Proteobacteria/Firmicutes to be predominant, and within these phyla, bacteria
belonging to the classes Gammaproteobacteria/Bacilli were the most prevalent. Our
data also indicate many new species of bacteria present in the fecal samples from the
bear, and new information on the bacteria involved in the breakdown/ fermentation of
raw meat and plant material. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the
composition and diversity of the gut microbiome, and efficiency of digestion of the
American black bear.