Presentation description

Research has shown that woodrats rely on their gut microbiome to metabolize toxic compounds from creosote bush. This study focuses on isolating microbes from woodrat guts and analyzing their growth in the presence and absence of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), the primary toxin in creosote. By comparing microbial growth curves with and without NDGA, this research aims to identify key microbes involved in toxin degradation, providing insights into how herbivorous mammals adapt to toxic diet.