Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbial nitrogen fixation in the gastro-intestinal tract of Kalmykia gerbils (M. tamariscinus and Meriones meridianus)

  • Microbiology
  • Published:
Biology Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The nitrogen-fixing activity, nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) contents, and the number of microorganisms in the forestomach, cecum, and colon were detected in two gerbil species, granivorous Meriones meridianus and M. tamariscinus, which consume a large amount of green parts of the plants. M. meridianus had higher levels of nitrogen-fixation activity in all investigated parts of the gastro-intestinal tract compared with M. tamariscinus. The highest levels were detected in the colon of M. meridianus. The C/N ratios in the forestomach of M. tamariscinus were higher than in M. meridianus, which is consistent with the greater role of the green parts of plants in its diet. A gradual increase in the nitrogen content from the forestomach to the colon of M. tamariscinus was noted. The amount of microorganisms in the forestomach and intestine of the studied gerbil species was similar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belov, L.P., Kostina, N.V., Naumova, E.I., and Umarov, M.M., Specific Features of Nitrogen Transformation in the Soddy-Podsolic Soil in the Colonies of the Common Vole Microtus arvalis, Izv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Biol., 2002, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 102–105 [Biol. Bull. (Eng. Transl.), 2002, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 88–91].

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedyanina, T.F., Abundance of Tamarisk Gerbil in Northern Kirgizia, in Ekologiya i meditsinskoe znachenie peschanok fauny SSSR (Ecology and Medical Role of Gerbils in the Fauna of the USSR), Moscow: Vsesoyuz. Teriol. Obshch., 1981, pp. 162–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meshcherskii, I.G., Naumova, E.I., Kostina, N.V., et al., Effect of Deficiency of Dietary Nitrogen on Cellulose Digestibility and Nitrogen-Fixing Flora Activity in Sibling Vole Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, Izv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Biol., 2004, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 556–560 [Biol. Bull. (Eng. Transl.), 2004, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 457–460].

    Google Scholar 

  • Metody pochvennoi mikrobiologii i biokhimii (methods of Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry), Zvyagintsev, D.G., Ed., Moscow: Mosk. Gos. Univ., 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naumova, E.I., Ushakova, N.A., Meshcherskii, I.G., et al., Nitrogen Fixation: A New Phenomenon in Rodent Nutrition, Izv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Biol., 2000, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 341–343 [Biol. Bull. (Eng. Transl.), 2000, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 272–274].

    Google Scholar 

  • Naumova, E.I., Zharova, G.K., Vecherskii, M.V., et al., Mechanisms of Utilization of Cellulose-Containing Fodders by the European Beaver Castor fiber, Usp. Sovrem. Biol., 2010, vol. 130, no. 1, pp. 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rall’, Yu.M., Introduction to Ecology of Midday Gerbils Pallasiomys meridianus Pall. III. Nutrition. Age-Related Consistent Patterns. Lifespan and Mortality Rate, Vestn. Mikrobiol. Epidemiol. Parazitol., 1940, vol. 18, no. 3/4, pp. 320–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varshavskii, A.A., Naumova, E.I., and Tikhonov, I.A., Characteristics of Functioning of Cellulose-Utilizing Symbionts in the Proventriculus and Appendix of Voles Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis, Zool. Zhurn., 2004, vol. 83, no. 11, pp. 1299–1304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varshavskii, A.A., Puzachenko, A.Yu., Naumova, E.I., and Kostina, N.V., The Enzymatic Activity of the Gastrointestinal Tract Microflora of the Greater Mole Rat (Spalax microphtalmus, Spalacidae, Rodentia), Dokl. Akad. Nauk, 2003, vol. 392, no. 4, pp. 564–567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vecherskii, M.V., Naumova, E.I., Kostina, N.V., and Umarov, M.M., Assimilation of Biological Nitrogen by European Beaver, Izv. Akad. Nauk, Ser. Biol., 2009, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 108–112 [Biol. Bull. (Eng. Transl.), 2009, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 92–97].

    Google Scholar 

  • Vecherskii, M.V., Naumova, E.I., Kostina, N.V., and Umarov, M.M., Osobennosti Some Specific Features of Nitrogen Fixation in the Digestive Tract of the European Beaver (Castor fiber), Dokl. Akad. Nauk, 2006, vol. 411, no. 1, pp. 128–130.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii prosp. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia

    T. A. Kuznetsova & E. I. Naumova

  2. Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University, Leninskie gory 1, Building 12, Moscow, 119992, Russia

    N. V. Kostina & M. M. Umarov

Authors
  1. T. A. Kuznetsova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. V. Kostina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. I. Naumova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. M. Umarov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. V. Kostina.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © T.A. Kuznetsova, N.V. Kostina, E.I. Naumova, M.M. Umarov, 2010, published in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, 2010, No. 5, pp. 560–563.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuznetsova, T.A., Kostina, N.V., Naumova, E.I. et al. Microbial nitrogen fixation in the gastro-intestinal tract of Kalmykia gerbils (M. tamariscinus and Meriones meridianus). Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 37, 476–479 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359010050067

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359010050067

Keywords

Search

Navigation