PRJNA865359
Effect of collection and storage methods on ground squirrel gut microbiome
This project seeks to validate methods for collection and storage of fecal samples for gut microbiome analysis in free-living California ground squirrels. Replicate fecal samples were collected from 12 adult female ground squirrels either from soil or a plastic tub during handling, and were stored either directly in liquid nitrogen or in coolers on ice packs until transfer to -80C with the goal of ensuring fecal samples did not become contaminated or degraded using these different methods.