Diet Composition (diet + composition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Forage collection, substrate preparation, and diet composition in fungus-growing ants

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
HENRIK H. DE FINE LICHT
1. Variation and control of nutritional input is an important selective force in the evolution of mutualistic interactions and may significantly affect coevolutionary modifications in partner species. 2. The attine fungus-growing ants are a tribe of more than 230 described species (12 genera) that use a variety of different substrates to manure the symbiotic fungus they cultivate inside the nest. Common ,wisdom' is that the conspicuous leaf-cutting ants primarily use freshly cut plant material, whereas most of the other attine species use dry and partly degraded plant material such as leaf litter and caterpillar frass, but systematic comparative studies of actual resource acquisition across the attine ants have not been done. 3. Here we review 179 literature records of diet composition across the extant genera of fungus-growing ants. The records confirm the dependence of leaf-cutting ants on fresh vegetation but find that flowers, dry plant debris, seeds (husks), and insect frass are used by all genera, whereas other substrates such as nectar and insect carcasses are only used by some. 4. Diet composition was significantly correlated with ant substrate preparation behaviours before adding forage to the fungus garden, indicating that diet composition and farming practices have co-evolved. Neither diet nor preparation behaviours changed when a clade within the paleoattine genus Apterostigma shifted from rearing leucocoprinous fungi to cultivating pterulaceous fungi, but the evolutionary derived transition to yeast growing in the Cyphomyrmex rimosus group, which relies almost exclusively on nectar and insect frass, was associated with specific changes in diet composition. 5. The co-evolutionary transitions in diet composition across the genera of attine ants indicate that fungus-farming insect societies have the possibility to obtain more optimal fungal crops via artificial selection, analogous to documented practice in human subsistence farming. [source]


Sex differences in grey seal diet reflect seasonal variation in foraging behaviour and reproductive expenditure: evidence from quantitative fatty acid signature analysis

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
CARRIE A. BECK
Summary 1Intraspecific variation in diet can be an important component of a species niche breadth. We tested the hypothesis that sex differences in seasonal foraging behaviour and energy storage of sexually size dimorphic grey seals Halichoerus grypus (Fabrisius 1971) are reflected in differences in the diet and niche breadth. Diet composition was estimated for 496 adult (226 males, 270 females) and 91 juvenile (46 males/45 females; all 6 months old) grey seals sampled between 1993 and 2000 using quantitative fatty acid signature analysis. Niche breadth and overlap were estimated using the Shannon,Weaver diversity index (H,) and the Morisita,Horn index (CH), respectively. 2Sand lance Ammodytes dubius (Reinhardt 1837) and redfish Sebastes sp. (Cuvier 1829) accounted for a high proportion of the diet in both sexes and age groups. However, the diets of adult males were significantly more diverse across all seasons (H,: males 0·36 ± 0·007 vs. females 0·28 ± 0·007) and less energy dense in spring (male 5·3 ± 0·07 kJ g,1 vs. females 5·6 ± 0·09 kJ g,1) than those of adult females. 3Season and sex explained most of the observed variation in adult diets, but there were significant sex,season interactions. These differences were most evident during the post-breeding (spring) foraging period when energy acquisition is important to female recovery of nutrient stores needed to support pregnancy. Females selected fewer and higher quality prey species in spring than males. 4There were no sex differences in the diets of juvenile grey seals. Although many of the species overlapped with those eaten by adults, juvenile niche breadth (H,: 0·41 ± 0·014, n = 91) was significantly broader than that of adults (H,: 0·30 ± 0·011, n = 115). Juvenile diets were also of lower energy density (5·3 ± 0·04 kJ g,1) than those of adults (5·6 ± 0·09 kJ g,1), suggesting less selectivity in these young and relatively naïve predators. 5Sex-specific seasonal changes in diet correspond to seasonal changes in diving behaviour and rate of body energy accumulation of adult males and females. Sex-specific reproductive requirements appear to be a primary factor generating the intraspecific variation in the seasonal foraging ecology of this large marine carnivore. However, sex differences in the breadth and energy content of diets also suggest the influence of body-size dimorphism as a factor shaping the diet of this species. [source]


Diet composition of Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761) (Pisces: Belonidae) in the Aegean Sea

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
T. M. Sever
Summary The objective of this study was to determine the monthly dietary pattern in migratory garfish and to improve our understanding in the seasonality of prey choice. Gut contents of 597 Belone belone specimens collected from the eastern Aegean Sea (Turkey) were analyzed: 79.2% contained food in their guts and 20.8% had empty guts. Crustaceans (36.7%) were the most important prey with a 36.7 index of relative importance (%IRI). Especially brachyurans (13.0%) and copepods played a major role (10.1%), followed by teleosts (26.1%) and other food categories (23.3%) (much of which was of terrestrial origin, including insects). Nannocalanus minor, Clausocalanus arcuicornis, Temora stylifera, Labidocera wollastoni and Oncea media were important copepods found in the guts of B. belone specimens. Analysis of variance of the monthly weight data indicated no significant seasonal differences, except for January and February. [source]


Diet composition of Xenopus borealis in Taita Hills: effects of habitat and predator size

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Beryl A. Bwong
Abstract Frogs in the genus Xenopus are ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa, yet very little is recorded on their ecology. They are commonly found in anthropogenically disturbed habitats, but how do these compare to conspecifics from natural habitats? The diet of Xenopus borealis from three different sites in Taita Hills, Kenya was established based on a sample of 77 (54 females and 23 males) specimens from two disturbed and one pristine sites. Xenopus borealis from all the sites was found to be a dietary generalist, feeding predominantly on invertebrates. A total of twelve invertebrate orders both terrestrial and aquatic were recorded in addition to amphibian eggs, tadpoles and fish. Frogs from the pristine forest were smaller and had ingested more terrestrial prey items than frogs in the disturbed open habitat ponds. The stomach content (both by mass and quantity) was independent of body size. The results suggest that X. borealis is an opportunistic generalist predator which may be constrained by food availability in its natural habitat. However, disturbed habitats provide abundant food items which are enough to significantly increase the mean size of the population. Résumé Les grenouilles du genre Xenopus sont présentes partout en Afrique subtropicale, mais il existe peu de travaux sur leur écologie. On les trouve fréquemment dans des habitats perturbés par les hommes, mais comment ces grenouilles-ci se comparent-elles à leurs congénères des habitats naturels ? On a pu établir le régime alimentaire de Xenopus borealis sur trois sites différents des Taita Hills, au Kenya, d'après un échantillon de 77 individus (54 femelles et 23 mâles) de deux sites perturbés et d'un site intact. Xenopus borealis s'est avéréêtre un consommateur généraliste sur tous les sites, se nourrissant principalement d'invertébrés. On a noté la présence d'un total de 12 ordres d'invertébrés, terrestres et aquatiques, auxquels s'ajoutent des ,ufs d'amphibiens, des têtards et des poissons. Les grenouilles des forêts intactes étaient plus petites et mangeaient des proies plus terrestres que celles des points d'eau d'habitats ouverts perturbés. Le contenu stomacal (aussi bien par la masse que par la quantité) était indépendant de la taille corporelle. Les résultats suggèrent que X. borealis est un prédateur généraliste opportuniste qui peut être limité par la disponibilité de la nourriture dans son habitat naturel. Par contre, des habitats perturbés fournissent une nourriture abondante, suffisante pour augmenter significativement la taille moyenne de la population. [source]


Diet and distribution of elephant in the Maputo Elephant Reserve, Mozambique

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
Willem F. De Boer
The distribution and diet of the elephants of the Maputo Elephant Reserve were studied using dung counts, satellite tracking and faecal analysis. The results were compared with earlier data from before the civil war in Mozambique. The elephant population decreased during the civil war, but 180 animals still remain. Earlier studies described the elephants as preferring the grass plains. Currently, the elephants prefer the dense forest patches over the high quality forage found in the grass plains. Water salinity affected distribution; elephant dung piles were found closer to fresh water in the dry season. A total of 95 different plant species were identified in the faeces. The percentage of grass was relatively low compared with other studies, increasing at the beginning of the rainy season. At the end of the dry season, elephants concentrated on the few available browse species with young leaves, but generally preferred grass species to browse species. Diet composition was mainly affected by season and less by habitat. The elephants have changed their habitat preference in reaction to poaching, and probably increased the contribution of browse species in the diet. The presence of forest patches has been vital for the survival of the elephants. Résumé On a étudié la distribution et le régime alimentaire des éléphants de la Réserve áéléphants de Maputo en utilisant le comptages des crottes, le tracking par satellite et l'analyse des excréments. On a comparé les résultats avec des données recueillies avant la guerre civile au Mozambique. La population d'éléphants a baissé pendant la guerre civile mais il reste 180 animaux. Des études antérieures montraient que les éléphants préféraient les plaines herbeuses. Actuellement, ils préfèrent les ,^lots de forêt dense au fourrage de haute qualité qui se trouve dans les plaines herbeuses. La salinité de l'eau modifie la distribution; on trouvait les crottes d'éléphants plus près de l'eau douce en saison sèche. On a identifié un total de 95 espèces végétales différentes dans les excréments. Le pourcentage d'herbes était relativement bas par rapport aux études antérieures, il augmentait au début de la saison des pluies. A la fin de la saison sèche, les éléphants se concentraient sur les quelques espèces de buissons comestibles ayant des jeunes feuilles, mais ils préféraient généralement les espèces herbeuses aux buissons. La composition du régime était surtout affectée par la saison et moins par l'habitat. Les éléphants ont changé leurs préférences en matière d'habitat en réaction au braconnage et ont sans doute ainsi augmenté la contribution des espèces buissonnantes dans le régime alimentaire. La présence des ,^lots forestiers a été vitale pour la survie des éléphants. [source]


Diet composition and feeding of European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in Kiel Bight, western Baltic Sea

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
M. Schaber
Diet composition of the expanding southern species European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the western Baltic Sea was investigated. Results revealed an interesting case of bentho-pelagic coupling with potential implications for local fish species through competition for food resources. [source]


Diet composition, rumen papillation and maintenance of carcass mass in female Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in winter

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
S. D. Mathiesen
Abstract The uptake of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from bacterial fermentation of forage in the rumen is enhanced by the presence of papillae which greatly increase the surface area of the mucosa of the rumen. The degree of papillation, expressed as the surface enlargement factor (SEF), seems to be closely related to the level of microbial activity and the rate of production of VFAs in the rumen. In several species of wild ruminants the SEF decreases markedly in winter, apparently in response to a decrease in the quality and availability of forage and also, presumably, in the level of ruminal microbial activity. Contrary to expectation, however, no reduction in the rate of production of VFAs in winter has been detected in semi-domesticated reindeer at natural pasture in northern Norway. We investigated the body mass, the composition and quality of the diet and the morphology of rumen papillae in adult female reindeer free-living at natural pasture. Animals were slaughtered in matched aged groups of nine on four occasions: in autumn (September) and winter (November, February and March). The composition and quality of the diet was determined by morphological and chemical analysis of plant fragments recovered from the rumen. The carcass mass of the animals did not differ significantly between collections. The animals ate vascular plants and lichens from 37 different genera. The composition of the diet varied little between months except for the inclusion of a substantial proportion (25.8% of fragments) of lichens in March. The mean density of rumen papillae increased from 55.6 papillae/cm2 in September to 75.7 papillae/cm2 in March (P < 0.001). All other parameters, including the length and perimeter of the papillae and the SEF of the rumen, were lower in March compared with September. However, the mean SEF increased from 8.8 in February to 10.6 in March (P < 0.05), indicating increased ruminal fermentation in late winter. We propose that the increase in the SEF in March might be associated with the increase in the proportion of lichens in the diet. Lichens are highly digestible in reindeer but do not score highly in conventional analyses of diet quality owing to the unusual chemical structure of the structural carbohydrates of which they are composed. [source]


Detection and monitoring of anaerobic rumen fungi using an ARISA method

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
S.E. Denman
Abstract Aim:, To develop an automated ribosomal intergenic spacer region analysis (ARISA) method for the detection of anaerobic rumen fungi and also to demonstrate utility of the technique to monitor colonization and persistence of fungi, and diet-induced changes in community structure. Methods and Results:, The method could discriminate between three genera of anaerobic rumen fungal isolates, representing Orpinomyces, Piromyces and Neocallimastix species. Changes in anaerobic fungal composition were observed between animals fed a high-fibre diet compared with a grain-based diet. ARISA analysis of rumen samples from animals on grain showed a decrease in fungal diversity with a dominance of Orpinomyces and Piromyces spp. Clustering analysis of ARISA profile patterns grouped animals based on diet. A single strain of Orpinomyces was dosed into a cow and was detectable within the rumen fungal population for several weeks afterwards. Conclusions:, The ARISA technique was capable of discriminating between pure cultures at the genus level. Diet composition has a significant influence on the diversity of anaerobic fungi in the rumen and the method can be used to monitor introduced strains. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Through the use of ARISA analysis, a better understanding of the effect of diets on rumen anaerobic fungi populations is provided. [source]


Utilization of torula yeast (Candida utilis) as a protein source in diets for tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus Peters) fry

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2002
M.A. OLVERA-NOVOA
A 63 day,1 feeding trial was conducted under laboratory conditions to evaluate the effects of substituting animal protein with a mixture of plant feedstuffs including 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45% of the protein with torula yeast (Candida utilis), 20% with soybean meal and 15% with Alfalfa Leaf Protein Concentrate (ALC), in diets for tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus Peters) fry. Feeding efficiency was compared against a diet with fish meal as the sole protein source. Diet nutritional quality was very similar independent of composition, with no differences in growth parameters, but fish fed with 30% yeast diet showed the best growth performance. Diet composition did not affect feed or protein utilization, with the best feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and apparent nitrogen utilization in the 25% yeast diet. Protein digestibility was above 80% for all diets, and no differences in carcass composition were observed. The best incidence cost was obtained with 25% yeast and the highest profit index with 30% yeast, but no statistical differences were observed with the other treatments. The results suggest that it is possible to replace up to 65% of animal protein with a mixture of plant proteins, including 30% from torula yeast, in tilapia fry diets without adverse effects on fish performance and culture profit. [source]


Impacts of Agriculture on the Diet and Productivity of Mackinder's Eagle Owls (Bubo capensis mackinderi ) in Kenya

BIOTROPICA, Issue 4 2009
Darcy L. Ogada
ABSTRACT Land conversion for agriculture is an increasing threat to biodiversity conservation, but its ecological effects on African birds is practically unknown. We investigated the impacts of agriculture on the diet and productivity of a small, disjunct population of Mackinder's eagle owls (Bubo capensis mackinderi ) in central Kenya. Owl diet was determined by analysis of pellets and other remains and compared to small mammal populations estimated by live trapping in two habitats. Small mammal abundance was low and averaged 7.4 small mammals/ha in farms and 0.5 small mammals/ha in grassland. Owls consumed a wide diversity of prey. The majority were mammals (87%) followed by birds (7%) and insects (5%). The percentage of small mammals in owl diet correlated positively with the relative abundance of small mammals during monthly trapping sessions. Diet composition did not influence owl breeding success. Farming activities affected owl diet composition through crop production. The amount of maize, peas, and carrots growing in farms was correlated with the abundance of Mastomys sp. and Procavia sp. in the owl's diet. Agricultural activities had a large effect on Mackinder's eagle owl diet by increasing the abundance of certain small-mammal prey and attracting owl prey to farms, though farming practices harmful to owls were observed. [source]


Forage collection, substrate preparation, and diet composition in fungus-growing ants

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
HENRIK H. DE FINE LICHT
1. Variation and control of nutritional input is an important selective force in the evolution of mutualistic interactions and may significantly affect coevolutionary modifications in partner species. 2. The attine fungus-growing ants are a tribe of more than 230 described species (12 genera) that use a variety of different substrates to manure the symbiotic fungus they cultivate inside the nest. Common ,wisdom' is that the conspicuous leaf-cutting ants primarily use freshly cut plant material, whereas most of the other attine species use dry and partly degraded plant material such as leaf litter and caterpillar frass, but systematic comparative studies of actual resource acquisition across the attine ants have not been done. 3. Here we review 179 literature records of diet composition across the extant genera of fungus-growing ants. The records confirm the dependence of leaf-cutting ants on fresh vegetation but find that flowers, dry plant debris, seeds (husks), and insect frass are used by all genera, whereas other substrates such as nectar and insect carcasses are only used by some. 4. Diet composition was significantly correlated with ant substrate preparation behaviours before adding forage to the fungus garden, indicating that diet composition and farming practices have co-evolved. Neither diet nor preparation behaviours changed when a clade within the paleoattine genus Apterostigma shifted from rearing leucocoprinous fungi to cultivating pterulaceous fungi, but the evolutionary derived transition to yeast growing in the Cyphomyrmex rimosus group, which relies almost exclusively on nectar and insect frass, was associated with specific changes in diet composition. 5. The co-evolutionary transitions in diet composition across the genera of attine ants indicate that fungus-farming insect societies have the possibility to obtain more optimal fungal crops via artificial selection, analogous to documented practice in human subsistence farming. [source]


Being a generalist herbivore in a diverse world: how do diets from different grasslands influence food plant selection and fitness of the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus?

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
ALEXANDRA FRANZKE
1. Generalist insect herbivores occupy a variety of habitats that differ in food plant composition. Dietary mixing has been proposed as a possibility for generalists to overcome nutritional deficiencies of single plant species, but only a few studies have investigated herbivore feeding and fitness for diets that resemble natural scenarios. We studied feeding behaviour, survival, and reproduction of the generalist grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus raised on food plants of four typical habitats. 2. Grasshopper diet consisted of grasses (92.5%), legumes (6.7%) and, in small quantities, other forbs (0.8%). Diet selection differed between the four food plant mixtures, and depended on grasshopper sex and developmental stage. There was no correlation between the relative abundance of plant species in the field and the fraction of these species in the grasshopper diet. 3. Grasshoppers survived on average for 40.4 ± 1.0 days before maturity, grew 106.8 mg until maturity moult, and females laid 4.1 ± 0.4 egg pods, each of which contained 8.5 ± 0.4 eggs. However, despite the differences in feeding behaviour, grasshopper fitness was the same in all of the four food plant mixtures. While the digestibility of ingested food was similar in the four different treatments, indices indicated differences in the conversion efficiency to body mass. 4. Our results show that C. parallelus is a plastic feeder with no fixed preferences in diet composition. The results emphasise that generalist herbivores can counteract putative quality deficiencies of single food plants by selective dietary mixing. [source]


Ontogenetic diet shift in the June sucker Chasmistes liorus (Cypriniformes, Catostomidae) in the early juvenile stage

ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 3 2010
J. D. Kreitzer
Kreitzer JD, Belk MC, Gonzalez DB, Tuckfield RC, Shiozawa DK, Rasmussen JE. Ontogenetic diet shift in the June sucker Chasmistes liorus (Cypriniformes, Catostomidae) in the early juvenile stage. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 433,438. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract,,, Ontogenetic diet shifts are common in fishes and often occur during early life stages. The larval and early juvenile period is critical in the life cycle of the endangered June sucker, Chasmistes liorus (Teleostei: Catostomidae). High larval and juvenile mortality leads to low recruitment to the breeding population and hence a declining natural population. To understand diet composition and dynamics in June sucker at early life stages, diet was quantified and compared to available food items in the natural environment during the early juvenile stage. Rotifers (Brachionus sp.) were the primary diet item at week 10, but by week 12 a small cyclopoid copepod (Microcyclops rubellus) became predominant. Availability of diet items varied little across the experimental period. The increase in size of young suckers may explain this rapid dietary shift, but there are some inconsistencies with the size selection argument. This diet shift represents an important nutritional change that should be considered in development of diets for young June sucker and in assessing suitability of nursery habitats. [source]


Relationship between diet composition and the fecundity of Musca domestica

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009
Ran WON
Abstract A study of the relationship between diet compositions of housefly Musca domestica and the fecundity of the insect was carried out. Fecundity was increased more than 30% by adding a protein source and inorganic salts into the larval and adult diets. Also, adding a protein source into the adult diet prolonged the oviposition period of adult houseflies. [source]


Assessing trace-metal exposure to American dippers in mountain streams of southwestern British Columbia, Canada

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2005
Christy A. Morrissey
Abstract To develop a suitable biomonitor of metal pollution in watersheds, we examined trends in exposure to nine trace elements in the diet (benthic invertebrates and fish), feathers (n = 104), and feces (n = 14) of an aquatic passerine, the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), from the Chilliwack watershed in British Columbia, Canada. We hypothesized that key differences may exist in exposure to metals for resident dippers that occupy the main river year-round and altitudinal migrants that breed on higher elevation tributaries because of differences in prey metal levels between locations or possible differences in diet composition. Metals most commonly detected in dipper feather samples in decreasing order were Zn > Cu > Hg > Se > Pb > Mn > Cd > Al > As. Resident dipper feathers contained significantly higher mean concentrations of mercury (0.64 ,g/g dry wt), cadmium (0.19 ,g/g dry wt), and copper (10.8 ,g/g dry wt) relative to migrants. Mass balance models used to predict daily metal exposure for dippers with different diets and breeding locations within a watershed showed that variation in metal levels primarily was attributed to differences in the proportion offish and invertebrates in the diet of residents and migrants. In comparing predicted metal exposure values to tolerable daily intakes (TDI), we found that most metals were below or within the range of TDI, except selenium, aluminum, and zinc. Other metals, such as cadmium, copper, and arsenic, were only of concern for dippers mainly feeding on insects; mercury was only of concern for dippers consuming high fish diets. The models were useful tools to demonstrate how shifts in diet and breeding location within a single watershed can result in changes in exposure that may be of toxicological significance. [source]


The effect of Calluna vulgaris cover on the performance and intake of ewes grazing hill pastures in northern Spain

GRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 4 2000
K. Osoro
The effect of the proportion of Calluna vulgaris cover on diet composition, intake and performance of sheep grazing hill vegetation communities in northern Spain is examined. A total of 591 non-lactating Gallega ewes grazed for five consecutive grazing seasons (June to September) on replicated plots of hill pastures (1700 m.a.s.l.) composed principally of Festuca, Agrostis, Nardus and Calluna spp. but with different proportions of Calluna vulgaris cover, either 0·3 (C0·3) or 0·7 (C0·7) of the total area. In 1 year, twenty-eight ewes suckling single lambs also grazed the plots. The mean stocking density over the 5 years was 8·7 ewes ha,1. On treatment C0·3, daily liveweight gains (33 g d,1) of non-lactating ewes were significantly (P < 0·001) greater than on treatment C0·7 (12 g d,1). Likewise in lactating ewes the difference in mean daily liveweight change was 40 g d,1 (,5 vs. ,45 g d,1 for C0·3 and C0·7 treatments respectively; P < 0·001). Liveweight gains of lambs were only 80,100 g d,1 from June to August and lambs only maintained live weight during August and September. The effect of lactational status on liveweight changes was not significant. Liveweight gains of non-lactating ewes increased significantly (P < 0·001) from the first to the last year of the experiment on both treatments. The composition of the diet was significantly affected by treatment (P < 0·001), with a higher proportion of grass species on the C0·3 treatment and a higher digestibility of the diet in the first half of the grazing season (P < 0·001). The proportion of C. vulgaris in the diet was significantly (P < 0·001) higher on the C0·7 treatment and increased significantly (P < 0·001) from July to September on both treatments. There were no significant differences in the composition of the diet selected by lactating and non-lactating ewes. The results demonstrate that on hill vegetation communities, in which the grass components (Festuca rubra, Agrostis capillaris, and Nardus stricta) cover at least 0·3 of the area and on which the preferred grass component (Festuca and Agrostis spp.) is maintained at a sward height of at least 2·5 cm, non-lactating ewes can increase their live weight and body condition, but this increase is influenced by the proportion and quantity of species of grass in the diet, which is affected in turn by the species of grass available and their nutritive quality. However, ewes suckling lambs were not able to maintain their live weight and body condition except when Calluna cover was 0·3 and grass height was more than 3·5 cm. It is concluded that these indigenous vegetation communities can be used in sheep production systems to complement the use of improved pastures at other times of year. In particular, they can be utilized during the non-lactating period (summer) to increase body condition before the beginning of the mating period in autumn. [source]


Energy metabolizability and nutrient digestibility in the Black-billed Magpie Pica pica

IBIS, Issue 2 2001
E. JEAN HARPER1
Energy metabolizability (ME) and nutrient digestibility were investigated in a captive colony of nine adult Black-billed Magpies Pica pica over a 12-day period. The mean digestibility coefficients ranged from 0.84 for protein to 0.94 for fat and were generally close to those of other birds. Mean daily protein intake was 10.5 g/bird which was relatively high compared with the values reported for other species. Raptor studies have also reported high protein intakes which not only reflects the diet composition but may suggest that meat-eating birds have a high protein requirement. The magpies exhibited an energy metabolizability of 324.3 kJ ME/100 g wet mass intake which corresponded well with the value of 328.8 Id ME/100 g calculated using the standard poultry equation. The measured ME intakes of the magpies were all higher than the values predicted using published allometric equations. The data from the magpies were combined with those of other studies on raptorial birds to derive an equation to predict daily ME requirement: ME (kJ) = 15.16M0.65 We propose that this equation predicts the daily ME requirements of birds of 100,1500 g. [source]


The impact of nutrient density in terms of energy and/or protein on live performance, metabolism and carcass composition of female and male broiler chickens of two commercial broiler strains

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 4 2010
E. Delezie
Summary The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diet composition on performance, slaughter yield and plasma metabolites, as different modern broiler strains show different responses to feed intake. Broilers of two commercial strains and of both sexes received one of three diets being different in energy and/or protein level [control diet, low energy/low protein diet (LM/LP) and low protein diet (LP)]. Low energy/low protein diet chickens were characterized by significantly lower body weights and feed intake compared with their LP and control counterparts. Broilers of the Cobb strain or broilers that were fed the control diet were most efficient in converting energy to body weight. No significant differences in plasma metabolites were detected due to diet composition or genotype. The diet with the lower energy and crude protein levels reached the lowest slaughter yield but the highest drumstick and wing percentages. The lowest mortality percentages were observed for broilers fed the LM/LP diet, and Cobb birds appeared to be more sensitive for metabolic disorders resulting in death. It is obvious from this study that different genotypes respond differently to changes in diet composition and therefore have adjusted nutritional requirements. [source]


Selenium supplementation and selenium status of dairy cows fed diets based on grass, grass silage or maize silage

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2002
M. GIERUS
In three separate trial series (TS) the effect of diet composition on selenium (Se) status of dairy cows were investigated. Diets were formulated based mainly on grass (TS1), grass silage (TS2) or maize silage (TS3) with different levels of Se supplementation. Each TS comprised a total of 30 dairy cows and contained one treatment group without Se supplementation (control) and two groups with increasing levels of Se supplementation (levels 1 and 2). Selenium was administered as Na-selenite. The control groups of the different TS showed a very low Se supply of 38,54 ,g Se/kg DM. At level 1 the Se supply was increased to 102,165 ,g Se/kg DM and at level 2 was 294,373 ,g Se/kg DM. After completion of the 6-week trials the average plasma Se concentration of the control cows (without Se supplementation) across all TS was 21.5 ,g/l; this increased significantly following Se supplementation, to 37.7 ,g/l at level 1 and 61.5 ,g/l at level 2. The plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the control cows averaged 67 U/l, rising considerably after supplementation at level 1 to a value of 101 U/l, but showed little further increase at level 2 with a mean value of 120 U/l. By contrast, the average Se content of the milk was unchanged in the control and level 1 groups at 10.5 ,g/kg and 10.9 ,g/kg, respectively, and only increased markedly after supplementation at level 2 to a mean value of 15.1 ,g/kg. The diet based on maize silage, while having a similar Se content as the grass and grass silage-based diets, resulted in a slightly improved Se status, which is due to a higher Se intake from soybean meal. [source]


Estuarine colonization, population structure and nursery functioning for 0-group sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), flounder (Platichthys flesus) and sole (Solea solea) in a mesotidal temperate estuary

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
F. Martinho
Summary The function of the Mondego estuary as a fish nursery habitat was investigated from June 2003 to June 2004 by comparing the timing of estuarine colonization with juveniles of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, flounder Platichthys flesus, and sole Solea solea, while also analysing their population structure, growth and diet composition. Differences in the onset of estuarine colonization were observed, since sole juveniles were the first to enter the estuary (in January), followed by flounder in April and sea bass in June. The estuarine population of these species consisted of several age-groups, although the majority of individuals belonged to age-groups 0 and 1. The growth rates determined for 0-group fish were within the range of those reported for other European estuarine systems. Some differences were also recognized regarding the timing of estuarine colonization and the length of the growing season. Diet of 0-group sea bass consisted mainly of Crustacea, Polychaeta and Mollusca. Flounder juveniles fed chiefly on Amphipoda (especially Corophium spp.), with Polychaeta, Isopoda and Decapoda also being common prey. The diet of 0-group sole was dominated by Polychaeta, with Amphipoda, Mollusca and Decapoda ranking highest, with other important benthic organisms also being present. Dietary overlap among these species was relatively low. [source]


Folivory in the white-tipped plantcutter Phytotoma rutila: seasonal variations in diet composition and quality

JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Enrique H. Bucher
Plantcutters (Phytotomidae) represent the only Passeriformes with a predominantly folivorous diet. Little is known however about their feeding habits and adaptations for leaf consumption. Here we analyze the relationship between diet composition and nutritional value in the white-tipped plantcutter Phytotoma rutila in a Chaco woodland in Córdoba, Argentina. The white-tipped plantcutter consumed mainly dicot leaves (91%), complemented with a small proportion of fruits (7%) and flowers (2%). Eleven plant species were utilized, of which five were strongly dominant: Lycium cestroides (38%), Prosopis alba and P. nigra (28%), Celtis tala (22%), and Schinus longifolius (8%). No animal food was consumed. The leaf material ingested by the white-tipped plantcutter had high protein content and low proportion of fibers and phenols. In multivariate analysis, leaf chemical properties accounted for over 81% of the variation in diet composition throughout the year. However, only protein and phenols content related significantly with diet composition in single regressions. The quality index that relates protein with lignin and phenols showed the highest correlation with diet composition. Availability of highly nutritive leaves of Lycium cestroides during the dry season seems to be a key factor for the occurrence of the white-tipped plantcutter in the study area. Our results confirm that plantcutters are truly folivorous passerine species, being able to obtain a highly nutritional diet throughout the year. [source]


Large-scale spatio-temporal shifts in the diet of a predator mediated by an emerging infectious disease of its main prey

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 8 2009
Marcos Moleón
Abstract Aim, To explore the influence of an emerging infectious disease (EID) affecting a prey species on the spatial patterns and temporal shifts in the diet of a predator over a large geographical scale. We reviewed studies on the diet of Bonelli's eagles (Hieraaetus fasciatus) in order to determine the repercussions of the reduction in the density of its main prey, the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), caused by outbreaks of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) since 1988. Location, Western continental Europe. Methods, We compiled published and unpublished information on the diet of breeding Bonelli's eagles from Portugal, Spain and France for a 39-year study period (1968,2006). Nonparametric tests were used in order to analyse temporal shifts in diet composition and trophic diversity (H,) between the periods of ,high' (before outbreak of RHD) and ,low' rabbit density (after outbreak of RHD). A combination of hierarchical agglomerative clustering and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyses were used to test for the existence of geographical patterns in the diet of Bonelli's eagles in each period. Results, The diet of the Bonelli's eagle consisted of rabbit (28.5%), pigeons (24.0%), partridges (15.3%), ,other birds' (11.6%), ,other mammals' (7.1%), corvids (7.0%), and herptiles (6.4%). However, RHD had large consequences for its feeding ecology: the consumption of rabbits decreased by one-third after the outbreak of RHD. Conversely, trophic diversity (H,) increased after outbreak of RHD. At the same time, the analyses showed clear geographical patterns in the diet of the Bonelli's eagle before, but not after, RHD outbreak. Main conclusions, Geographical patterns in the diet of the Bonelli's eagle in western Europe seem to be driven mainly by spatio-temporal variation in the abundance of rabbits and, to a lesser extent, by the local (territorial) environmental features conditioning the presence and density of alternative prey species. We show that an EID can disrupt predator,prey relationships at large spatial and temporal scales through a severe decline in the population of the main prey species. Hence we argue that strict guidelines should be drawn up to prevent human-aided dissemination of ,pathogen pollution', which can threaten wildlife not only at the population and species level but also at the community and ecosystem scale. [source]


Trophic diversity of the otter (Lutra lutra L.) in temperate and Mediterranean freshwater habitats

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2003
Miguel Clavero
Abstract Aim To analyse the geographical patterns in the composition and diversity of otter's (Lutra lutra L.) diet and their relationship with climatic characteristics. Location European freshwater habitats under Mediterranean and temperate climatic regimes. Methods Thirty-seven otter diet studies were reviewed, twenty-one from temperate and sixteen from Mediterranean areas. All studies were based on spraint analysis and their results expressed as relative frequency of occurrence of seven main prey categories. Principal Component Analysis was performed to extract the main gradients of diet composition. Pearson's correlation and t -tests were used to assess the relationship between diet characteristics (composition, diversity and taxonomic richness) and geographical and climatic variables. Results A clear latitudinal gradient in diet composition was observed. Otter diet was more diverse and featured more prey classes in southern localities, while the species was more piscivorous towards the north, where it predated upon a higher number of fish families. This pattern was similar when temperate and Mediterranean localities of Europe were compared. Mediterranean otters behaved as more generalist predators than temperate ones, relying less on fish, and more on aquatic invertebrates and reptiles. Main conclusions Geographical differences in otter feeding ecology in Europe seem to be related with the two contrasted climatic conditions affecting prey populations. The otter can act as a highly specialized piscivorous predator in temperate freshwater ecosystems, which do not suffer a dry season and have a comparatively stable water regime compared to Mediterranean ones. However, the unpredictable prey availability in Mediterranean areas, affected by strong spatial and temporal water shortages, favours a diversification of the otter's diet. [source]


Differences in stable isotope composition within and among zooplanktivorous Utaka cichlid populations from Lake Malawi

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Dieter Anseeuw
Abstract Stable isotope analysis was used to determine whether five sympatric zooplanktivorous cichlids of the Utaka assemblage from Lake Malawi vary in isotopic signature as an indication of possible differences in food resource composition. The isotopic composition of the Utaka in combination with literature data about diet composition suggests that these species exploit a narrow range of zooplanktonic prey types. At five sampling locations, significant differences in ,13C and ,15N were detected among species but a consistent pattern across locations was absent. Significant intraspecific differences between locations were found. These differences were relatively low in view of the large geographic distances between the populations and there was no consistent spatial pattern among the species. The observed differences may be indicative of local variations in diet composition, which may help in reducing niche overlap among these zooplanktivores. Résumé Nous avons utilisé une analyse des isotopes stables pour déterminer si cinq cichlides sympatriques zooplanctivores appartenant à l'assemblage Utaka du lac Malawi ont une signature isotopique différente, ce qui serait une indication de différences possibles dans la composition de leurs ressources alimentaires. La composition isotopique d'Utaka, combinée aux données publiées au sujet de la composition du régime alimentaire, suggère que ces espèces exploitent une gamme réduite de types de proies zooplanctoniques. À cinq endroits échantillonnés, on a détecté des différences significatives de ,13C et ,15N parmi les espèces, mais il n'y avait pas de schéma cohérent parmi tous les sites. On a découvert des différences intraspécifiques significatives entre les sites. Ces différences étaient relativement faibles compte tenu des grandes distances entre les populations et il n'y avait pas de schéma spatial cohérent parmi les espèces. Les différences observées peuvent indiquer des variations locales de la composition du régime alimentaire, ce qui pourrait aider à réduire le recouvrement des niches chez ces zooplanctivores. [source]


Diel variation in feeding rate and prey composition of herring and mackerel in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
E. Darbyson
Diel feeding patterns of herring Clupea harengus and mackerel Scomber scombrus in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence were examined based on samples obtained by midwater trawling between 19 and 26 June 2001. Within 3 h time periods, stomach contents tended to be more similar between fish from the same tow than between fish from different tows. Thus, in contrast to previous diet studies, which have used individual fish stomachs as independent observations, tow was used as the experimental unit in statistical analyses in this study. Diel patterns in stomach fullness were identified using generalized additive models. Two peaks in stomach fullness occurred for herring, one in the morning and the other in the evening. Mackerel showed an increase in feeding intensity throughout the day with a peak in mid-afternoon. The diel changes in stomach contents suggested rapid gastric evacuation rates for both species, especially for herring. The estimate of the instantaneous evacuation rate for herring was twice that for mackerel. Calanus copepods (mainly C. hyperboreus), fishes (mainly capelin Mallotus villosus) and euphausiids were the main prey found in the stomachs of both species. Calanus copepods dominated the diet of herring regardless of time period. They also dominated the diet of mackerel during the late afternoon, evening and night while fishes and euphausiids were dominant during the morning and early afternoon. These diel patterns emphasize the need for sampling throughout the day and night in order to estimate ration and diet composition for bioenergetic and ecosystem models. [source]


Factors affecting the meat quality of veal

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2006
Tania M Ngapo
Abstract Over the last 50 years the veal industry has seen a number of changes, in particularly in production systems with the introduction and acceptance of grain-fed and heavier calves and the progressive move from individual pens to group housing. Reasons for the changes are multi-faceted of which two important players are the well-being of the animal and the public perception of the industry. Regardless of the reasons for the changes, breeders strive to attain veal conforming to the rigorous standards reflecting consumer demands. Consequently a multitude of publications exists on production factors in veal farming. However, many of these reports stop at the ,farm gate', or more correctly, the slaughterhouse, where carcass characteristics in particular are assessed. Changes in production systems generally aim to improve feed efficiency and weight gains, but often overlook meat quality aspects which ultimately dictate financial gains. This review aims to summarise the existing and available literature on factors affecting the quality of veal meat. The topics covered include the effects of breed, sex, weight or age, diet composition and dietary treatments, environment and pre-slaughter handling, and processing factors such as stunning, electrical stimulation, ageing and packaging. Copyright © 2006 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Dietary NaCl Does Not Affect Blood Pressure in Healthy Cats

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004
Nicole Luckschander
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dietary salt intake on systolic blood pressure, water intake, urine output, and urine concentration in cats. Ten healthy young adult cats (mean age 2.5 years) were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed either a control diet (0.46% Na and 1.33% Cl on a dry matter [DM] basis) or a diet with a moderately increased salt content (1.02% Na and 2.02% Cl on a DM basis) for 2 weeks. After a 1-week wash-out period, each group was switched to the opposite diet for 2 weeks. During each 2-week study period, food and water intake, urine volume, urine specific gravity, and urine osmolality were measured daily. Systolic blood pressure (calculated as the mean of 5 readings measured with a Doppler flow detector) was assessed twice daily. No significant effect of diet composition was found on systolic blood pressure, and blood pressure measurements remained within reference limits throughout the study in all 10 cats. However, animals fed the higher salt diet had significantly increased water intake and urine osmolality, and significantly decreased urine specific gravity in comparison to animals fed the control diet. Examination of results of this preliminary study suggests that feeding a diet with moderately increased salt content increases water intake and causes diuresis without increasing systolic blood pressure in healthy adult young cats. [source]


Interspecific differences in foraging preferences, breeding performance and demography in herring (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) at a mixed colony

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
S.-Y. Kim
Abstract Herring gulls Larus argentatus and lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus breeding at Walney Island, Cumbria, the largest breeding colony of the two species in the UK, have recently shown very different population trends. The former has declined sharply, whereas numbers of the latter have been maintained for several years. Here we compare aspects of the feeding and breeding ecology of the two species in order to examine whether or not this suggests explanations for their different population trends. Comparison of the ratio of the two species in flight lines leading to different feeding sites and their diet composition showed that the lesser black-backed gulls fed more at sea and the herring gulls fed more in the intertidal zone. Urban resources were used by both these species. These differences have been consistent over the last three decades. Susceptibility to death from botulism at the breeding colony was the same for the two species. The availability of the intertidal zone for foraging appears to have declined in recent years, and this may have had a more negative impact on the herring gull. However, the breeding success of the two species remains relatively high. This study suggests that differences in foraging behaviour and food availability during the breeding season are unlikely to be responsible for the marked differences in demographic trends in the two species. Changes in local food availability during the winter would be expected to have more effect on the resident herring gull. This work highlights the need for more detailed studies of the ecology of both species during the breeding season and in winter in regions showing differing patterns of population change. [source]


Variations of diet composition of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in Europe

MAMMAL REVIEW, Issue 3-4 2001
Claudia Gebert
ABSTRACT To define the food resources of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in Europe and to detect the principal sources of variations in their diet, we reviewed field studies based on stomach content analysis. The study areas were classified into three main habitat groups (mixed-coniferous forest, mixed-deciduous forest, moorland), the food items into 13 plant categories, and we used five seasonal classes (winter, spring, summer, autumn, hunting season) for analysing the data set. For statistical analyses we used correspondence analysis and analysis of variance. Red Deer eat a varied diet comprising at least 145 plant species. The main sources of diet variation were due to habitat, leading us to identify three habitat types characterized by the consumption of a few key species. Clear seasonal variation was observed only for the seed and fruit items which were used mainly during the hunting season. Our results confirm that Red Deer can be classified among the intermediate feeders, with a mixed diet of grass & sedges (29%) and concentrate food items (63%). However, they also show Red Deer to be primarily a concentrate feeder (max. 75%) with no significant seasonal variation between the quantities of grass or sedges and concentrate food in the diet. In the light of these results, we discuss potential competition with other sympatric ungulates (wild and domestic). We suggest that it may be useful to take into account key food resources in modelling population dynamics and in taking management decisions. [source]


DIET OF HARBOR PORPOISES IN THE KATTEGAT AND SKAGERRAK SEAS: ACCOUNTING FOR INDIVIDUAL VARIATION AND SAMPLE SIZE

MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003
Patrik Börjesson
Abstract Stomach contents of 112 bycaught harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) collected between 1989 and 1996 in the Kattegat and Skagerrak seas were analyzed to describe diet composition and estimate prey size, to examine sample size requirements, and to compare juvenile and adult diets. Although porpoises preyed on a variety of species, only a few contributed substantially to the diet. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was the dominating prey species for both juveniles and adults. Our results, in combination with those from previous studies, suggest that where herring is a dominant food source, porpoises prey primarily on size classes containing mature or maturing individuals. Further, we also show that Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) may be an important food resource, at least for adult porpoises. Examination of sample size requirement showed that, depending on the taxonomic level used to describe the diet, a minimum of 35,71 stomachs are needed to be confident that all common prey species will be found. [source]