Table 2. Primers used for quantitative PCR

Target species	Primer	Sequence (5’ → 3’)	Size (bp)	Efficiency1)	References
General bacteria	F	CGGCAACGAGCGCAACCC	130	1.90	[16]
	R	CCATTGTAGCACGTGTGTAGCC
Ciliate protozoa	F	GCTTTCGWTGGTAGTGTATT	223	1.89	[35]
	R	CTTGCCCTCYAATCGTWCT
Methanogenic archaea	F	GAGGAAGGAGTGGACGACGGTA	232	1.92	[35]
	R	ACGGGCGGTGTGTGCAAG
Prevotella ruminicola	F	GCGAAAGTCGGATTAATGCTCTATG	78	1.91	[35]
	R	CCCATCCTATAGCGGTAAACCTTTG

Efficiency is calculated as [10^−1/slope].
PCR, polymerase chain reaction; bp, base pair.