Two new papers out on microbiome techniques

Direct PCR methods work as well as traditional DNA extraction techniques for characterising microbiomes in ostrich guts

http://msystems.asm.org/content/2/6/e00132-17

Are cloacal swabs a good way to measure gut microbiota?

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1755-0998.12744/abstract