TABLE 4.

Proportions of acetate methyl group converted to methane and CO₂ and comparison of acetate oxidation with turnover

Species	Gut section	Methane production from acetate (pmol ml−1 min−1)a	CO2 from acetate oxidation (pmol ml−1min−1)a	Mean turnover of acetate (nmol ml−1 min−1)b	% Acetate methyl oxidation of turnoverc
K. sydneyanus	IV	3.10 ± 0.40	3,883 ± 634	569	0.68
	V	1.10 ± 0.47	2,826 ± 635	448	0.63
O. pullus	IV	0.92 ± 0.50	1,675 ± 252	551	0.30
	V	4.10 ± 0.15	198 ± 17	373	0.05
A. arctidens	IV	1.37 ± 0.50	2,425 ± 154	312	0.77
	V	0.14 ± 0.03	903 ± 383	130	0.69

^aDetermined after 21 to 48 h of incubation from disintegrations per minute and assuming the specific radioactivity was the same as that for acetate at the beginning of the experiment.

^bValues are means obtained from Table 3.

^cRate of acetate methyl carbon oxidation/turnover × 100.