Methane Flashcards
What has happened to methane emissions over time?
Increased
How much of methane emissions come from agricultural sources?
42%
What is the problem with cellulose?
Difficult to digest - no mammal has managed to break it down
What is the largest chamber in ruminants? What starts in this chamber?
The rumen
Fermentation starts
What is the reticulum for?
Second chamber
Pieces of plant material are floated into this chamber and concentrated
Honeycomb structure helps form balls or cuds
These are then regurgitated and re-chewed
What does the omasum do?
Third chamber
Muscular action continues to break down material
What is the abomasum? What does it do?
Final and trie stomach
Digestive enzymes are secreted and start to digest the remains of the food
What is the caecum?
Last chance for food to be broken down
Anything remaining will be egested
What are the conditions for the rumen?
28-42C
pH = 6-7
Anaerobic
What are the two phases of glycolysis?
Phase 1 = preparatory phase
Phase 2 = payoff phase
What happens when you change pH conditions in the rumen?
Decrease the pH, get less CO2 and methane but VFA concentration is low
Normal pH but with no methanogenesis, get almost no methane but a much lower yield
