An Australian-Swiss team has conducted a kangaroofart study that has rewritten the rules of previous research. Their research is the largest to date on methane emissions in Australia from Australia’s most powerful marsupials, they claim. The question of how much methane Kangaroos emit has been debated for years. We now know thanks to Dr. Adam Munn, of the University of Wollongong’s Institute for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, and Professor Marcus Clauss, of the University of Zurich’s Clinic of Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife. Catharina Vendl was a doctoral student at the University of New South Wales’ Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station. The Kangaroos produce less methane that domestic ruminants. Their findings were published in peer-reviewed journal The Journal of Experimental Biology. Dr. Munn stated that although we knew the kangaroos would not produce much methane but it was certainly not zero. The question is still posed as to how. Methane can be released into the atmosphere and plays an important role in global warming. Previous research has been challenged by Dr. Munn. He said: “The principal hypotheses for kangaroos emitting little methane are based on the fact that kangaroos have a unique microbiome, which produces methane mainly through flatulence and not burping as cows or sheep. Our findings do not contradict the claims of microbiologists. They measured the absolute methane production of kangaroos and then compared this to horses’, taking into account body weight. Professor Clauss said that kangaroos are different from ruminants like sheep or cows in their stomachs. According to scientists, the amount of methane produced by kangaroos depends on their dietary intake. The atmosphere is emitted enormous amounts of methane by domestic ruminants. This depends on how many they consume and what food they are given. Kangaroos who were restricted in their diets had methane levels that were nearly twice those of domestic ruminants. cattle). Professor Clauss and Dr. Munn believe it’s wrong to attempt to lower greenhouse gas emissions by ruminant cattle through replacing their gut faunas with those of kangaroos, or animals emitting less methane. This approach is likely to fail. This latest research adds to their ongoing study into methane production by wildlife. They are using a comparative approach to understanding the effects of methane on different species. Professor Clauss and Dr. Munn have so far measured methane emission from horses, llamas and rodents & rats, as well as kangaroos, emus and emus. Dr. Munn stated that further research is needed to understand the reasons why these animals produce lower amounts of methane than ruminants. The journal’s Abstract stated that the researchers had found evidence that kangaroos emit 27% less methane than ruminants. However, further research is needed to determine why. Journal of Experimental Biology 2015 218: 3425-3434; DOI: 10.1242/jeb. 128165.
