Evaluation of different storage methods to characterize the fecal bacterial communities of captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

► We compared freezing, RNAlater and ethanol for storage of fecal bacterial DNA. ► By PCR-DGGE and qPCR we assessed and compared fecal microbiota of captive gorillas. ► We recommend using RNAlater to preserve fecal samples, if freezing is not possible. ► Firmicutes were the most frequently identified species in gorilla fecal community.