Cellulose Digestion in Herbivores
Plants have cellulose in their cell walls, which is consumed by herbivores. Numerous herbivores use the ability of some bacterial groups to ferment plant cell walls in order to extract energy from them. After that, the body absorbs it and uses it as nourishment. Herbivores can digest cellulose by monogastric digestion by using the symbiotic gut bacteria. The efficiency of herbivores in obtaining energy from the digestion of cellulose is lower than that of ruminants. Here, microbial fermentation is used to break down cellulose.
Animal evolution has given rise to different ways for plants to be digested. While the digestive tracts of many herbivores include a large fermenting organ, certain herbivores—like giant pandas, which consume bamboo as their primary food—have digestive tracts that resemble those of carnivorous animals. Thus, fermenting organs are not strictly necessary for herbivores.
Cellulose In Digestion – Herbivores, Termites, & Ruminants
Cellulose is a type of fiber that cannot be digested by the human digestive system. The presence of beta-acetal linkages in cellulose distinguishes it from starch and determines its digestion. The organisms that are capable of digesting the cellulose with their cellulase enzyme are microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
Except for a few multicellular organisms, such as termites, most higher organisms cannot digest cellulose without the help of microorganisms. In this article, we will discuss cellulose in digestion and why humans can digest starch but not cellulose.
Table of Content
- What is Cellulose?
- Structure of Cellulose
- Cellulose Digestion in Ruminants
- Cellulose Digestion in Termites
- Cellulose Digestion in Herbivores
- Reasons Why Humans Cannot Digest Cellulose
- Importance of cellulose in digestion