# Analysis of the microbial diversity in the fecal material of the critically endangered orangutan

## TL;DR

This study examines the bacterial and fungal diversity in the feces of orangutans at the Racine Zoo to better understand their gut microbiome.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed characterization of the gut microbiota of critically endangered orangutans using next-generation sequencing.

## Key findings

- Bacillota and Bacteroidota were the most predominant bacterial phyla in orangutan feces.
- Ascomycota was the most predominant fungal phylum identified.
- The study predicted the functional potential of the bacterial communities using PICRUSt2 and the KEGG database.

## Abstract

The orangutan (
Pongo
spp.) is a critically endangered species. Today, populations of these animals are rapidly declining by up to 75%. They are found in the tropical rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. In this study, using a next generation sequencing approach, the bacterial and fungal diversity in the fecal material of orangutans living in the Racine Zoo were investigated. The most predominant bacterial phyla were the Bacillota along with Bacteroidota. The most predominant fungal phylum was Ascomycota. Finally, the various functions of the bacterial communities present in the fecal material were predicted with PICRUSt2 using the KEGG database.