Thesis

Dugongs are unique herbivorous marine mammals that obtain nutrients through hindgut fermentation of seagrass. The microbes responsible for this process have not been identified. This study will profile the major hindgut bacteria present in the faeces of wild and captive dugongs from south-east Queensland, using molecular-based techniques including fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). Variation in the microbial communities will be examined between individual wild dugongs in terms of gender, body size and body condition. The microbes in captive dugongs will be compared to those found in wild animals. This study characterised a new microbial ecosystem and provided insight into the ecology and evolution of microbes in the dugong colon.