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Research on microbial communities has branched out from humans to include terrestrial animals, plants and soil bacteria, and even homes and office spaces. Marine mammals are tough to study, though, as they are far-flung and elusive. Sample collection usually involves following dolphins or whales until they defecate, then rushing to scoop the poop before it sinks. A recent study took a more in-depth approach, directly sampling captive marine mammals to investigate their internal microbial world. [Source: Scientific American]
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