The purpose of this research was to compare lemur species and characterize differences that are related to gastrointestinal morphology and physiology. Four lemur species that differ in feeding ecology, V. variegata, E. fulvus, P. verreauxi, and H. griseus, were selected for use in studies designed to focus on key aspects of gastrointestinal morphology or physiology that may differ. V. variegata, a frugivore, and E. fulvus, a generalist, were similar in many respects. Transit time through the gut was rapid (4.03 ± 1.6 h and 3.25 ± 1.6 h; mean ± SE ) and without discernable compartmental slowing. Gastric emptying of 1.5mm radio-opaque spheres (BIPS) was rapid for both species (0.25-0.50 h). Dry matter (DM) (55.5 ± 1.4% and 58.6 ± 1.4%) and insoluble fiber (IF) (19.7 ± 3.4% and 27.7 ± 3.4%) digestibility was low for both by comparison to H. griseus and P. verreauxi. However fecal inoculum from V. variegata fermented soluble fiber substrates (citrus pectin) at a greater rate at 3 h of total short-chain fatty acid fermentation (141.1 ± 12.1 µmol*h-1*g of original substrate (OS) for V. variegata vs. 44.4 ± 12.1 µmol*h-1*g of OS for E. fulvus), suggesting enhanced fermentation of soluble fiber (SF). H. griseus, a bamboo feeder, and P. verreauxi, a folivore, showed similarities, despite large differences in gastrointestinal morphology. The relative tract length compared to body length was 13:1 for P. verreauxi and 4.2:1 for H. griseus but both were equal in DM (72.0 ± 1.4% and 76.3 ± 1.4%) and IF (53.1 ± 3.4% and 62.3 ± 3.4%) digestibility. Within tract transit differed also in that gastric emptying of 1.5mm radio-opaque spheres was delayed (8.0-12.0 h) for P. verreauxi and was more immediate for H. griseus (1.0-2.0 h). TT and MRT of liquid and particle phase markers were also longest for H. griseus. These data add to the body of work available on primate feeding ecology, and also provide novel information useful for the nutritional management of lemurs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NCSU/oai:NCSU:etd-05142003-090343 |
| Date | 09 June 2003 |
| Creators | Campbell, Jennifer Louise |
| Contributors | Joan H Eisemann |
| Publisher | NCSU |
| Source Sets | North Carolina State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-05142003-090343/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to NC State University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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