Ruminal methanogenesis is one of the main emission sources of methane due to the methanogenic archaea in the rumen. Methanogens can utilize H2 and CO2 produced during feed fermentation as the main electron acceptor and donor to generate methane through reduction, and play an important role in rumen functional niche. In addition to methanogens, other microbes also affect the methane production. In general, rumen microbes can be divided into hydrogenogens and hydrogenotrophs. This review has explored the relationship between methanogens and non-methanogens, and focused on the microbial population related to the decreasing of methane production in the rumen which consisted of hydrogenogens such as protozoa and fibrolytic bacteria and hydrogenotrophs beyond methanogens.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（4）：556 -562］