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Mafra D, Borges NA, Baptista BG, Martins LF, Borland G, Shiels PG, Stenvinkel P. What Can the Gut Microbiota of Animals Teach Us about the Relationship between Nutrition and Burden of Lifestyle Diseases? Nutrients 2024; 16:1789. [PMID: 38892721 PMCID: PMC11174762 DOI: 10.3390/nu16111789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota performs several crucial roles in a holobiont with its host, including immune regulation, nutrient absorption, synthesis, and defense against external pathogens, significantly influencing host physiology. Disruption of the gut microbiota has been linked to various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, kidney, liver, respiratory, and intestinal diseases. Studying how animals adapt their gut microbiota across their life course at different life stages and under the dynamics of extreme environmental conditions can provide valuable insights from the natural world into how the microbiota modulates host biology, with a view to translating these into treatments or preventative measures for human diseases. By modulating the gut microbiota, opportunities to address many complications associated with chronic diseases appear. Such a biomimetic approach holds promise for exploring new strategies in healthcare and disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Mafra
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences and Graduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niterói 24020-141, Brazil;
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences—Physiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Natália A. Borges
- Graduate Program in Food, Nutrition, and Health, Institute of Nutrition, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil;
| | - Beatriz G. Baptista
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences and Graduate Program in Nutrition Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niterói 24020-141, Brazil;
| | - Layla F. Martins
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-220, Brazil;
| | - Gillian Borland
- School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (G.B.); (P.G.S.)
| | - Paul G. Shiels
- School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (G.B.); (P.G.S.)
| | - Peter Stenvinkel
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Technology and Intervention, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden;
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Przybyło M, Krajda G, Różański Ł, Rolik G, Ortmann S, Górka P, Clauss M. Fluid and particle retention in a small New World and a small Old World cervid, the southern pudu (Pudu puda) and Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 285:111506. [PMID: 37595882 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Ruminants differ in the pattern how small particles and liquids pass through their gastrointestinal tract, and in particular their reticulorumen (RR). Based on that they may be classified into 'moose-type' and 'cattle-type' species (smaller and larger differences between particle and liquid passage, respectively). The ratio between the retention of particles and fluids is called the 'selectivity factor' (SF) and is a species-specific characteristic, studied in tragulids, giraffids and bovids, but not in many cervid species. Recently, it has been suggested that a high SF might also serve to wash digesta clean of external abrasives prior to regurgitation for rumination. In this study, we measured SF and passage kinetics (using a liquid marker and markers of different particle size, fed with the diet) in a capreoline deer, the southern pudu (Pudu puda, n = 5, 10.3 ± 2.9 kg, kept at two zoos) and a cervine deer, the Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, n = 6, 11.0 ± 1.7 kg, kept at a research facility). The relative daily dry matter intake (38 ± 3 g/kg0.75 for pudu and 76 ± 5 g/kg0.75 for muntjac) was higher, and the mean retention times (MRT) correspondingly shorter (e.g., MRT small particles in the total digestive tract 39 ± 8 h for pudu and 15 ± 2 h for muntjac), in the muntjac. The SF for small particles/liquid in the reticulorumen were, however, similar for both species, at 1.47 ± 0.21 for pudu and 1.66 ± 0.20 for muntjac, indicating a 'moose-type' physiology for both, irrespective of their different phylogenetic origin. To date, SF recorded in bovids attain distinctively higher values than the few reported for cervids. This situation reflects the degree of hypsodonty (tooth crown height) attained by these taxa, which is higher in bovids than in cervids. Together, constraints in hypsodonty as well as SF might limit cervids to more mesic habitats without distinct loads of external abrasives (such as dust or grit) on their food. In both species, some animals showed the typical ruminant pattern of a longer MRT for large than for small particle markers, but in some animals, this difference was not evident. This may be due to variable degrees of marker chewing during ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Przybyło
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Gracja Krajda
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Różański
- Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw, Ratuszowa 1/3, 03-461 Warszawa, Poland.
| | | | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Paweł Górka
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
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Zhang X, Li Y, Terranova M, Ortmann S, Kehraus S, Gerspach C, Kreuzer M, Clauss M, Hummel J. A pilot investigation on the effect of induced saliva flow on digestive parameters in sheep, and a comparison with cattle. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:1176-1186. [PMID: 36891877 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Sheep with a relatively low methane yield were observed to have shorter fluid and particle mean retention times (MRT). Because the application of pilocarpine, a saliva stimulant, was successful in reducing retention times in ruminants in previous studies, we applied this substance to sheep, expecting a reduction in MRT and methane yield. Three non-pregnant sheep (74 ± 10 kg) were fed a hay-only diet in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with oral doses of 0, 2.5 and 5 mg pilocarpine/kg body weight and day. Measurements included feed and water intake, MRT of liquid and particulate phases in the reticulorumen (RR) and total gastrointestinal tract (GIT), ruminal microbial yield (via urinary purine bases and metabolic faecal nitrogen), total tract methane emission, apparent nutrient digestibility and rumen fluid parameters. Data were investigated for linear and quadratic effects using orthogonal polynomial contrasts. The MRT of liquid and small particles in the RR and total GIT, and the short-chain fatty acid concentration in rumen fluid, linearly declined with increasing pilocarpine dosage, while no quadratic relationship was detected. Intake of feed DM and water, apparent nutrient digestibility, methane yield and microbial yield were not affected by pilocarpine. When combining the sheep data with that of a similar experiment in cattle, we found that the MRT of the liquid phase was positively associated with estimated NDF digestibility and with methane production per digested NDF, but was not associated with microbial yield or the ratio of acetate to propionate. The ratio between MRT of the particulate and the liquid phase was smaller for sheep than that for cattle, and was not affected by treatment. Differences in this ratio might explain why species reacted differently to the saliva-inducing agent, which might help to explain the discrepancy between species in the effect of induced saliva flow on digestive parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Kehraus
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Gerspach
- Food Animal Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- AgroVet-Strickhof, Lindau Site, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Zhang X, Li Y, Terranova M, Ortmann S, Kreuzer M, Hummel J, Clauss M. Individual differences in digesta retention and their relation to chewing in cattle-A pilot investigation. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:394-406. [PMID: 35560728 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
While information on individual differences in digesta mean retention time (MRT) might be interesting when selecting phenotypes for digestive efficiency, MRT measurements are prohibitively labour-intensive for large-scale application. Therefore, more easily measured proxies of MRT might be helpful. We used the opportunity of an experiment applying saliva stimulant in cattle to investigate the effect of different individual chewing behaviour on fluid and particle MRT with a consistent diet. Four non-lactating cattle (670-850 kg body mass [BM]) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, treated with the saliva stimulant pilocarpine in dosages of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg BM per day. The cattle were fed hay with dry matter intake (DMI) assigned according to their metabolic body weight. MRT in the whole gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the reticulorumen (RR) and the distal tract were measured using Co-EDTA, Cr-mordanted fibre and La-mordanted fibre as markers representing fluid, small particles (2 mm) and large particles (1 cm), respectively. The chewing behaviour was measured via noseband pressure sensor and expressed as chewing frequency (chews per time) and chewing intensity (chews per DMI), both for total chewing (ingestion plus rumination) and rumination chewing alone. The animals differed considerably in chewing behaviour and MRT measures. BM did not show a significant effect on chewing behaviour and MRT measures, though it tended to negatively correlated to total chewing intensity. Chewing intensity exerted a significant negative influence on MRT of fluid and particles in the RR, which was not the case for chewing frequency. Chewing frequency showed a significant relationship with MRT of large particles in the GIT. We suggest that chewing behaviour could influence MRT in two ways: (i) by affecting saliva production via the masticatory-salivary reflex and subsequently, the fluid inflow to the RR; (ii) by contributing to particle size reduction. Should the link between chewing behaviour and MRT be corroborated in larger studies, chewing measures, with their large interindividual variation, could emerge as an easy-to-measure proxy for MRT characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Pfau F, Clauss M, Hummel J. Is there a difference in ruminal fermentation control between cattle and sheep? A meta-analytical test of a hypothesis on differential particle and fluid retention. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 277:111370. [PMID: 36646308 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ruminant species differ in digestive physiology. The species-specific ratio of mean retention time of particles and fluid (MRTparticle/MRTfluid) in the reticulorumen has been interpreted as controlling ruminal fermentation: a higher ratio indicates of a more distinct 'washing' of particulate digesta by liquid. This should increase the harvest of microbes from the reticulorumen, and keep the microbiome in a state of more intense growth; at the same time, this should increase the metabolic losses of faecal nitrogen of microbial origin, leading to lower values for the apparent digestibility of crude protein (aD CP). A systematic difference has been hypothesized between cattle (higher ratio) and sheep (lower ratio), with a lower MRTfluid in cattle due to a higher saliva production. Here, we test these hypotheses in a meta-analysis, using only studies that investigated cattle and sheep simultaneously. The datasets included 12 studies on MRT (of which 11 contained information on feed intake), yielding 102 (or 89) individual data; and 26 studies on protein digestibility (of which 18 contained information on intake), yielding 349 individual data. Cattle had a higher MRTparticle/MRTfluid (2.1) than sheep (1.7), mainly due to longer MRTparticle; only if body mass was included in the model, MRTfluid was significantly shorter in cattle in the larger MRT dataset (and tended to be shorter in the slightly smaller dataset). Cattle had a significantly lower aD CP than sheep, while there was no such difference in overall (dry or organic matter) digestibility. The dataset confirms a shift in fermentation strategy towards microbial production in cattle. While this has been suggested for ruminants in general, cattle appear particularly far on an evolutionary trajectory of maximizing microbial yield from the forestomach. The application of more specific digestive physiology data (like endogenous losses) gained from sheep to cattle should be done bearing these differences in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Pfau
- Department of Animal Sciences, University Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Department of Animal Sciences, University Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, Göttingen, Germany.
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Domestic Cattle in a National Park Restricting the Sika Deer Due to Diet Overlap. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040561. [PMID: 36830347 PMCID: PMC9951756 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Managers need to know the extent of the conflict between livestock and wild animals. Although many studies have reported the conflict between livestock and wild animals, few have checked the extent of the conflict. Cattle raising in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park is considered one of the main driving forces behind the restricted distribution of sika deer. To understand whether foraging competition is contributing to avoidance patterns between sika deer and cattle, we investigated their feeding habits using DNA barcoding and high-throughput sequencing. Our study shows that although cattle are grazers in the traditional division of herbivores, their diet shifted to a predominance of dicotyledonous woody plants, and this diet shift resulted in a high degree of dietary overlap between sika deer and cattle. Moreover, compared to sika deer, cattle diets are more diverse at the species level with a wider ecological niche. Our results confirm that overlapping dietary niches and the superior competitive abilities of cattle contribute to the restricted distribution of the sika deer, which has critical implications for the conservation of their predators. Our study suggests that cattle grazing should be prohibited in the Park and effective measures should be taken for the benefit of sika deer.
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Clauss M, Tschuor A, Codron D, Hummel J. Reticular contraction frequency and ruminal gas dome development in goats do not differ between grass and browse diets. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022; 106:1208-1215. [PMID: 34791696 PMCID: PMC9788097 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In investigations of differences between ruminant species feeding on browse or grass, it is often unclear whether observed differences are animal- or forage-specific. Ruminant species have been classified as 'moose-type', with little rumen content stratification, or 'cattle-type' with a distinct rumen contents stratification, including a gas layer. To which extent putative differences in forestomach motility are involved in these patterns is unknown. Using sonography, we investigated the frequency of reticular contractions and the stratification of rumen contents in goats fed exclusively on grass hay (n = 6) or dried browse (n = 5) directly after feeding, and after another 6 and 12 h with no access to feed. The frequency of reticular contractions decreased from immediately after feeding (1.8 ± 0.3 min-1 ) to 6 h afterwards (1.2 ± 0.2 min-1 ) and then remained constant, with no difference between diets. A gas dome became more visible over time, but neither its incidence nor its extent differed between diets. The results are in accord with classifying goats as 'cattle-type' in terms of their digestive physiology, and they add to a growing body of evidence that differences in digestive physiology between ruminant species are more due to species characteristics than different kinds of ingested forages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and WildlifeVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Andreas Tschuor
- Clinic for RuminantsVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland,Present address:
Buhnstrasse 3Zürich8052Switzerland
| | - Daryl Codron
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyUniversity of the Free StateBloemfonteinSouth Africa
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Department of Animal SciencesUniversity GoettingenGöttingenGermany
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Zhang X, Li Y, Terranova M, Ortmann S, Kehraus S, Gerspach C, Kreuzer M, Hummel J, Clauss M. Effect of induced saliva flow on fluid retention time, ruminal microbial yield and methane emission in cattle. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022; 107:769-782. [PMID: 36111703 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Both in vitro and animal studies indicated that a higher dilution rate is related to a more efficient microbial synthesis and a lower methane (CH4 ) yield. The latter could be a consequence of the former, as an increase in microbial cell synthesis offers an alternative hydrogen sink competing with methanogenesis. To test this assumption in live animals, we applied a saliva stimulant, pilocarpine, to modify liquid flow rate in cattle. Four non-lactating cows (750 ± 71 kg) were fed forage only (restricted to constant intake) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with oral doses of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5mg pilocarpine/kg body weight and day. We quantified feed and water intake, ruminal and total tract mean retention time (MRT) of solute and particle markers, ruminal microbial yield (via urinary purine bases or metabolic faecal nitrogen), CH4 emission, digestibility, chewing behaviour, reticular motility and rumen fluid parameters. The effect of induced saliva flow was evident by visibly increased salivation and water intake. Increasing the pilocarpine dosages resulted in a linearly decreased MRT of fluid and small particles (p < 0.001 and p< 0.05, respectively) and methane yield as related to digested DM (p < 0.05), the latter at a magnitude of 5%. No effect of treatment was found on ruminal microbial yield estimated via purine derivates. Metabolic faecal N as an indicator of microbial growth linearly correlated with pilocarpine dosages (p < 0.05). No significant relationship was found between pilocarpine dosages and large particle MRT, nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH and short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, different from some in vitro studies, there was little indication of a reciprocal effect of CH4 and microbial biomass production in cows fed a forage-only diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Yang Li
- ETH Zurich Institute of Agricultural Sciences Lindau Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
| | - Saskia Kehraus
- Institute of Animal Science University of Bonn Bonn Germany
| | - Christian Gerspach
- Food Animal Department, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- ETH Zurich Institute of Agricultural Sciences Lindau Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zürich Switzerland
- AgroVet‐Strickhof Lindau Site Lindau Switzerland
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Li Z, Wang J, Khattak RH, Han X, Liu P, Liu Z, Teng L. Coexistence mechanisms of sympatric ungulates: Behavioral and physiological adaptations of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) in Helan Mountains, China. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.925465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying the coexistence mechanisms of sympatric wildlife helps to shed light on why the earth has so many different species. When ungulates share ranges, food and habitat requirements may partially or fully overlap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how sympatric ungulates share limited resources. Carcasses of 27 adult blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and three adult red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) were collected in the Helan Mountains, China. Nutritive indices of plant species foraged and morphometric measurements of the digestive system of the two sympatric ungulates were determined. In addition, 120 passive, infrared motion-triggered cameras recorded spatial overlap and temporal overlap between the two species. Camera trapping revealed relatively limited spatial overlap and significantly different activity rhythms between blue sheep and red deer. Differences were also observed in stomach weight, surface enlargement factor of the rumen, and intestine length between the two species. However, the combined relative weight of the stomach and intestine was not different between species. The low spatiotemporal overlap decreased opportunities for encounters between sympatric blue sheep and red deer, and significant differences in digestive systems allowed the two species to consume different plant species or different parts of the same species. Thus, the two sympatric ungulates coexist harmoniously in the Helan Mountains because of long-term evolutionary behavioral and physiological adaptations that eliminate negative effects on the survival of the other species.
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Świerk S, Hasior K, Garus-Piętak A, Przybyło M, Głuch M, Waliczek A, Różański Ł, Kański J, Górka P. Effect of amount of high-fibre pellet in the diet and bedding type on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, eating behaviour and rumination in bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022; 106:1162-1173. [PMID: 35758339 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Two studies were conducted to determine the impact of the amount of high-fibre pellet (HFP) in the diet and bedding material on feed intake, eating behaviour, rumination, activity and resting behaviour, and also nutrient digestibility in bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus). In Study 1, bongo were fed meadow hay (ad libitum), lucerne hay (0.5 kg/day), browse (0.7 kg/day) and a 'basal diet' containing 0.75 kg/day (low; LP), 1.50 kg/day (medium; MP) or 2.25 kg/day (high; HP) of HFP consisting mostly of insoluble fibre sources (dehydrated grass, dehydrated lucerne, wheat bran). In Study 2, experimental diets resembled those used in Study 1 with the main difference being that bongo were fed 1 or 2 kg of HFP/day and pens were bedded with straw (SB) or wood shavings (WB) (2 × 2 factorial design). In Study 1, dry matter (DM) intake of meadow hay decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with an increasing amount of HFP in the diet but total DM intake increased (p < 0.01). Eating time of basal diet (min/day) increased linearly (p = 0.01), whereas eating time of meadow hay tended to (p = 0.06) decrease linearly with an increasing amount of HFP in the diet. In Study 2, total DM intake was greater for HP treatments compared to LP treatments (p < 0.01) but meadow hay DM intake did not differ between treatments. Straw was consumed by animals and its usage as a bedding material increased meadow hay DM intake and browse DM intake (p ≤ 0.02), and consequently total DM intake (p = 0.03), compared with wood shavings bedding. Feeding more HFP to bongo tended to (p = 0.07) decrease rumination time per day and increased rumination rate (g DM/min). In conclusion, an increased amount of HFP (>1.5-2 kg/day/animal) rich in insoluble fibre in the diet consisting mostly of meadow hay may decrease the intake of roughages by bongo and reduce rumination time. On the other hand, the usage of straw (instead of wood shavings) as bedding unexpectedly increased the intake of roughages by bongo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Świerk
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Hasior
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Garus-Piętak
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Przybyło
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Milena Głuch
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Waliczek
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Różański
- Animal Nutrition Department, Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jarosław Kański
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Paweł Górka
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
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Przybyło M, Flaga J, Clauss M, Szczepanik K, Miltko R, Bełżecki G, Kowalski ZM, Górka P. Increased intake of mono- and disaccharides by Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). Effect on gastrointestinal tract structure and function and blood parameters. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022; 106:922-938. [PMID: 35587535 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an increased mono- and disaccharide (MD) intake on selected functions and structure of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and selected blood parameters in Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), a small browsing ruminant. Eighteen male muntjacs were fed diets consisting of lucerne (ad libitum), a high fibre pellet (100 g/day) and wheat bran (30 g/day) without (MD0) or with addition of 10 or 20 g of glucose, fructose and sucrose mixture/day (MD10 and MD20, respectively) for 14 days. MD dosages were set to increase intake of these saccharides by 25% and 50% relative to MD0, which resulted in a range of water-soluble carbohydrate content in the consumed dry matter from 7% to 12%. Compared to MD0 animals, MD20 animals had a lower dry matter intake, a higher MD concentrations in the reticulorumen (RR), abomasal and small intestinal digesta, higher ruminal butyrate concentration, higher SGLT1 expression in the epithelium of proximal jejunum, higher plasma glucose, lower RR tissue weight but greater caecal tissue weight (p ≤ 0.05), and had or tended to have shorter papillae and lower mucosa surface area in the Atrium ruminis (by 44%; p = 0.02 and p = 0.10, respectively); MD10 animals tended to have higher MD concentrations in the abomasal and small intestinal digesta (p ≤ 0.10), and a higher amylolytic activity (p = 0.02) as well as a tendency to lower xylanolytic activity in the RR digesta (p = 0.06). MD supplementation did not affect ruminal pH. In conclusion, low to moderate increase of MD intake increased MD concentrations in the RR, abomasal and intestinal digesta, and SGLT1 expression in intestinal epithelium, suggesting incomplete fermentation of those saccharides in the RR. MD supplementation dose-dependently affects structure of GIT in Reeves's muntjac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Przybyło
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jadwiga Flaga
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kinga Szczepanik
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Renata Miltko
- The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Bełżecki
- The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Zygmunt M Kowalski
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Górka
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
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12
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de Andrade GP, de Albuquerque PV, Tschá MDC, de Alcântara SF, de Miranda MELC, Nascimento JCDS, de Barros NFJ, Amorim MJAAL. Dietary neutral detergent fibre and lignin contents affect intake, digestibility and digesta retention in captive sloths (Bradypus variegatus). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022; 106:910-921. [PMID: 35468240 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated food intake, digestibility, digesta retention and digestible energy (DE) intake in four three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus, body mass 2.86 ± 0.10 kg) fed two leaf-based diets containing different neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin contents. Total dry matter intake (DMI), and intake in relation to body mass and metabolic body weight were higher for the mixed diet with lower NDF content based on Pterondon sp. + Inga sp. (47 g day-1 , 16 g kg-1 day-1 and 21 g kg-0.75 day-1 ) compared to the treatment with higher content of NDF from only Cecropia pachystachya leaves (37 g day-1 , 14 g kg-1 day-1 and 18 g kg-0.75 day-1 ). The digestibility of dry matter (dDM) and neutral detergent fibre (dNDF) were higher in the mixed diet (60% and 61% respectively). There was a higher supply of DE and metabolisable energy (ME) on the mixed diet, at 221 and 199 kJ kg-0.75 day-1 , meeting the average energy requirement of 185 kJ ME kg-0.75 day-1 ME estimated for sloths in this study. In contrast, the diet with C. pachystachya generated a deficit of 31 kJ ME kg-0.75 day-1 . There was a correlation between DMI and dNDF (r2 = 0.89), and between dNDF and dDM (r2 = 0.98) across treatments. The mean retention times for a liquid and a particle marker were lower on the mixed diet with the higher intake at 133 h (passage rate = 0.75% h-1 ) and 181 h (0.55% h-1 ), and longer on the single-species diet with lower intake at 204 h (0.49% h-1 ) and 261 h (0.38% h-1 ). The results suggest that it may be beneficial for sloths to be offered a variety of browse from which they can choose low-NDF components. Further, we suggest that these sloths perform 'digesta washing' to increase the microbial yield in the stomach to maximise the digestion of NDF and dry matter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marleyne José Afonso Accioly Lins Amorim
- Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.,Postgraduate in Animal Bioscience, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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13
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Przybyło M, Ortmann S, Świerk S, Clauss M. Fluid and particle retention in the greater kudu
(<i>Tragelaphus strepsiceros</i>). JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND FEED SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.22358/jafs/145755/2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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14
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Sun G, Xia T, Wei Q, Dong Y, Zhao C, Yang X, Zhang L, Wang X, Sha W, Zhang H. Analysis of gut microbiota in three species belonging to different genera ( Hemitragus, Pseudois, and Ovis) from the subfamily Caprinae in the absence of environmental variance. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12129-12140. [PMID: 34522365 PMCID: PMC8427585 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the effects of host species on the gut microbial flora in three species (Hemitragus jemlahicus, Pseudois nayaur, and Ovis orientalis) from the subfamily Caprinae, by excluding the impact of environment factors. We investigated the differences in intestinal flora of three species belonging to Caprinae, which were raised in identical conditions. Fecal samples were collected from tahr, mouflon, and bharal, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences reveals that fecal samples were mainly composed of four phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Proteobacteria. The most abundant phyla included Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes accounting for >90% of the bacteria, and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was observed in tahrs. Moreover, significant differences existed at multiple levels of classifications in the relative abundance of intestinal flora, differing greatly between species. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene indicated that mouflon is closely related to bharal, and it is inconsistent with previous reports in the species evolutionary relationships. In this study, we demonstrated that the gut microbiota in tahr had a stronger ability to absorb and store energy from the diet compared with mouflon and bharal, and the characteristics of host-microbiome interactions were not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guolei Sun
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Tian Xia
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Qinguo Wei
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Yuehuan Dong
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Xiufeng Yang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Xibao Wang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Weilai Sha
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
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15
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Kišidayová S, Durkaj D, Mihaliková K, Váradyová Z, Puchalska J, Szumacher-Strabel M, Cieślak A, Gizejewski Z. Rumen Ciliated Protozoa of the Free-Living European Bison ( Bison bonasus, Linnaeus). Front Microbiol 2021; 12:658448. [PMID: 34262537 PMCID: PMC8273303 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.658448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to perform population analysis of the rumen ciliated protozoa of the free-living European bison (wisent, Bison bonasus, Linnaeus). The samples of the rumen fluid from the 18 bison subjected to the controlled culls within the free-ranging population in the Bialowieza primeval forest in Poland were collected and examined. The examined ciliates population consisted of the species of the families Isotrichidae and Ophryoscolecidae. There were 12 genera (Isotricha, Dasytricha, Diplodinium, Elytroplastron, Entodinium, Eodinium, Epidinium, Eremoplastron, Eudiplodinium, Metadinium, Ophryoscolex, and Ostracodinium) and 32 morphospecies of the ciliates. We observed the prevalence of a type B protozoan population (56% animals) with the typical Epidinium and Eudiplodinium genera members. Other examined animals possessed the mixed A-B population with Ophryoscolex genus, distinct for type A ciliate population. The average total ciliates count was 2.77 ± 1.03 × 105/ml (mean ± SD). The most abundant genera were Entodinium, 83%, and Dasytricha, 14%. The abundance of other genera was <1% of the total count. Within the 16 Entodinium species determined, the most abundant species was Entodinium nanellum (16.3% of total ciliates count). The average Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 2.1 ± 0.39, evenness was 0.7 ± 0.11, and species richness was 24 ± 3.0 (mean ± SD). Our study is the first report on the population composition and diversity of rumen ciliates of European bison. The composition and counts of ciliate genera and species were similar to the composition and counts of the rumen ciliated protozoa of American bison and many other kinds of free-living and domestic ruminants. Our European bison ciliate population analysis has shown medium ciliate density and high diversity typical for large free-living ruminants with mixed feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Kišidayová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Dominik Durkaj
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Mihaliková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Zora Váradyová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Julia Puchalska
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Adam Cieślak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Zygmunt Gizejewski
- Department of Biodiversity Protection, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
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16
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Hertaeg J, Sauer C, Bertelsen MF, Hammer S, Lund P, Weisbjerg MR, Clauss M. Physical characteristics of forestomach contents from two nondomestic small ruminants, the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and the Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 257:110941. [PMID: 33794366 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rumen content stratification and the degree of dissociation of particle and fluid retention in the reticulorumen differ between 'moose-type' and 'cattle-type' ruminant species. These differences are not strictly linked to diet, except for a seeming limitation of 'moose-type' ruminants to a browsing niche. Nevertheless, these differences can be plausibly linked to other observed differences in ruminants, such as the intraruminal papillation pattern, or the size of the omasum. However, many of the corresponding measures are still only available for a restricted number of species. Here, we investigated the dry matter (i.e., the inverse of the moisture) concentration in forestomach contents of 10 blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and 7 Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica), and quantified the rumen papillation pattern. The blackbucks had distinct rumen contents stratification, with more moisture in ventral than in dorsal contents (difference 3.6% units, P < 0.001), whereas this difference was much less pronounced in the sand gazelles (0.6% units, P = 0.227). While reticulum contents were particularly moist in both species, omasum contents were particularly dry in sand gazelles, but did not differ in moisture from rumen contents in the blackbuck. This species is an outlier among ruminants due to its extremely small omasum. The intraruminal papillation pattern did not differ between blackbucks and sand gazelles and showed a surface enlargement factor (SEF) in the dorsal rumen of 27-28% of the SEF in the Atrium ruminis. Compared to data on digesta retention in the same species, the findings are in line with the overall concept of a high fluid throughput causing a distinct stratification of rumen contents and intraruminal papillation, and necessitating a large omasum for fluid re-absorption. However, the data also show that individual species may not correspond to all the assumptions of the concept, suggesting taxon-specific differences between species. Reasons for these differences cannot be linked to a dietary grass-browse spectrum, but may lie in evolutionary contingency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Hertaeg
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Cathrine Sauer
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, AU Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark; Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 32, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 32, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Sven Hammer
- Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz, Zittauerstr. 43, D-02826 Görlitz, Germany.
| | - Peter Lund
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, AU Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
| | - Martin R Weisbjerg
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, AU Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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17
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Abraham AJ, Prys‐Jones TO, De Cuyper A, Ridenour C, Hempson GP, Hocking T, Clauss M, Doughty CE. Improved estimation of gut passage time considerably affects trait‐based dispersal models. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Abraham
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
- Environmental Change Institute School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Tomos O. Prys‐Jones
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
| | - Annelies De Cuyper
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Chase Ridenour
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
| | - Gareth P. Hempson
- Centre for African Ecology School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Toby Hocking
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals Exotic Pets and Wildlife Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Christopher E. Doughty
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
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18
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Hejcmanová P, Ortmann S, Stoklasová L, Clauss M. Digesta passage in common eland (Taurotragus oryx) on a monocot or a dicot diet. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 246:110720. [PMID: 32387134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The way that fluids and particles move through the forestomach of a ruminant is species-specific, and can be used to classify ruminants according to their digestive physiology into 'moose-types' (with little difference in fluid and small particle passage) and 'cattle-types' (where fluids move through the forestomach much faster than small particles). So far, 'moose-types' appear limited to a dietary niche of browsing, whereas 'cattle-types' are particularly prominent in the intermediate and grazing diet niches. However, some species, including members of the spiral-horned antelopes (the Tragelaphini), have a 'cattle-type' physiology but a browse-dominated diet niche. Eland (Taurotragus oryx), the largest member of the Tragelaphini, are strict browsers in the wild but have been considered intermediate feeders in the past, and can seemingly be maintained on grass diets. We quantified food intake, mean retention time (MRT) in the gastrointestinal tract and the reticulorumen (RR) of a solute, a small and a large particle marker, and diet digestibility in six eland each fed a monocot (grass hay) and a dicot (lucerne silage) forage. Food intake and digestibility was lower on the diet with higher fibre content (grass hay), with corresponding longer MRT. At the higher intakes on lucerne, the difference in MRT between small and large particles was larger, indicating a greater reliance on particle sorting and clearance under this condition of potentially limiting gut capacity. Regardless of diet or intake, the ratio of small particle and solute MRT in the RR was constant and small, at a quotient of 1.54, classifying the eland as a typical 'moose-type' ruminant. This finding is consistent with previous literature reports on low faecal metabolic nitrogen and high apparent protein digestibility in eland. Given the relative ease at which eland can be maintained under farm husbandry conditions, they appear ideal model ruminants to study the effects of differences in rumen physiology compared to cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Hejcmanová
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Lucie Stoklasová
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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