The role of the midgut caecum and large intestine in the digestion of sea grasses by the dugong (Mammalia: Sirenia)
1977; Elsevier BV; Volume: 56; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0300-9629(77)90432-7
ISSN0300-9629
AutoresRobin M. Murray, Helene Marsh, GE Heinsohn, A. V. Spain,
Tópico(s)Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
Resumo1. Digesta samples were obtained within 30 min of death from 16 sites along the alimentary canal of an adult female dugong, Dugong dugon, captured off Townsville, Australia. 2. The ingesta consisted of the sea grasses, Halophila ovalis (98.8%) and Halodule uninervis (1.2%). 3. The apparent digestibilities, using lignin as an indigestible marker were 70%, 63%, 84% and 82% for nitrogen, phosphorus, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre respectively. 4. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in the stomach and small intestine were low (16 and 18 mM/l respectively). The mean concentrations within the caecum and large intestine were high (183 and 236 mM/l respectively). 5. Although the volatile fatty acid concentrations in the caecum and large intestine were considered unnaturally high, it is obvious that the contribution of the hindgut to the digestion of the dugong is considerable.
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