The Rumen is an ________ Habitat That Depends on ________

Question

The rumen is an ________ habitat that depends on ________ to digest cellulose for ruminant animals.
A) aerobic / cellulolytic fungi
B) aerobic / cellulolytic and fermentative bacteria
C) anaerobic / methanogens
D) anaerobic / cellulolytic and fermentative bacteria

Accepted Answer

The rumen is an anaerobic habitat, meaning it lacks oxygen. Ruminant animals rely on cellulolytic and fermentative bacteria to digest cellulose in their feed. Methanogens also play a role in the rumen ecosystem but they do not directly digest cellulose. Option A is incorrect because aerobic bacteria require oxygen to survive. Option B is partially correct as it includes cellulolytic bacteria but not fermentative bacteria. Option C is incorrect as methanogens are not responsible for cellulose digestion.