Ecological constraints on digestive physiology in carnivorous and piscivorous birds

Hilton, Geoff M.; Houston, David C.; Barton, Nigel; Furness, Robert W.; Ruxton, Graeme D.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-010x(19990301/01)283:4/5<365::aid-jez6>3.0.co;2-9

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…In any case, it seems reasonable that owl feeding with mice should be preferred as a more natural nutrition, compared to feeding with day-old chickens. Our proposal is based on the fact that missing knowledge on the specific nutrition of captive owls, in contrast to information available for diurnal raptors, still causes many losses of captive or reintroduced animals by digestive system disorders (Hellmann 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…Thus, a higher concentration of calcium may occur in the ceca, when compared to the small and large intestines. The importance of the owl ceca for calcium resorption is indirectly confirmed by the fact that with 20%, they make up a large part of entire intestinal length (Hellmann 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Naik (1962) could show from a broad study of Indian birds that the ceca tend to be well developed in omnivores, herbivores, and mollusceaters; in insectivores and graminivores, the ceca are rather small and highly variable in length in insectivores and carnivores. In this connection, it is of interest that some carnivores have ceca that are poorly developed and often vestigial (hawks); in others, they are very long and expanded like in owls (e.g., ceca length in the barn owlabout 45 mm, in the Eurasian tawny owl-about 95 mm, in the long-eared owl-about 57 mm; Hellmann 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Demonstration of calcium transport markers in the ceca of owls (Aves: Strigiformes), with remarks on basic ceca structure

2008

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Based on sensitive immunohistochemical methods, the ceca of three owl species (Tyto alba, Strix aluco, Asio otus) were studied for the presence of important Catransport proteins [Ca-channel (α2-subunit), calbindin D-28K, vitamin D 3 receptor) and one mitochondrial energy marker (succinate dehydrogenase (subunit A)]. Additionally, some information is given on basic ceca morphology, general histology, and goblet cells. The results obtained demonstrated that the enterocytes of the ceca are regularly involved in calcium transport and that this phenomenon is generally associated with high energy demands. The positive reactions for Ca-transport proteins were normally located in the apical cell membrane and/or cytoplasm but sometimes also in the basal cell membrane of the enterocytes. In the crypts, this cell type generally reacted weaker for the Ca-transport markers than in the epithelial layer of the intestinal villi; however, there were no differences between the cecal localizations (basis, corpus, apex) studied.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Demonstration of calcium transport markers in the ceca of owls (Aves: Strigiformes), with remarks on basic ceca structure

2008

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“…Falcons, which actively pursue aerial preys, have intestines that are 20-30% shorter than those of carnivorous birds that hunt by pouncing from a perch. The shorter intestinal tract of Mainly product of fermentation of carbohydrate these species decreases the efficiency of digestion (Barton and Houston 1994;Hilton et al 1999). Thus, we could speculate that a well-developed bacterial community in the crop could increase the efficiency of meat digestion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microflora in the crop of adult Dusky-billed Parrotlets (Forpus modestus)

et al. 2008

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We isolated aerobic and anaerobic facultative bacteria inhabiting the crop of adult Dusky-billed Parrotlets (Forpus modestus). We looked for bacteria capable of hydrolyzing starch, the most abundant polysaccharide in seeds. We compared our results with bacteria isolated from the crop of three species of doves with granivorous-frugivorous diet and three carnivore birds. Forpus modestus has 10 7 -10 8 of colony formation units (CFU); these values were higher by one to three orders of magnitude compared with those observed in the other species studied. Bacillus pumilus, one of the most abundant bacteria isolated in F. modestus (6.03 9 10 6 CFU), was capable of hydrolyzing starch. We found higher diversity and abundance of bacteria in granivorous than in carnivorous birds or birds without a developed crop. Additionally, we found yeasts in the three species of doves. These findings suggest microbial activity in the crop, although its importance in food digestion needs to be determined.

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“…Traditionally, it is believed that species characterised by a high degree of sexual dimorphism differ substantially between sexes in diet composition (Barton and Houston 1993; Hailey et al 1998; Hilton et al 1999; Slagsvold et al 2010). These differences may result from competitive avoidance, differences in physiology and sex-specific nutrient requirements due to differences in parental effort (Hawkins 1986; Halupka 1994; Durant et al 2000; Deeming 2002b; Neger 2006; Durant et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual differences in food preferences in the white stork: an experimental study

Kwieciński

Rosin

Dylewski

et al. 2017

Sci Nat

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Sex differences in the foraging ecology of monomorphic species are poorly understood, due to problems with gender identification in field studies. In the current study, we used experimental conditions to investigate the food preferences of the white stork Ciconia ciconia, an opportunistic species in terms of food, but characterised by a low level of sexual dimorphism. During a 10-day experiment, 29 individuals (20 females and 9 males) were studied by means of a ‘cafeteria test’ in which the storks’ diet consisted of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, insects and earthworms. The storks preferred food characterised by high calorific and protein values such as mammals, birds and fish. Sexes differed strongly in their preferences; males preferred mammals, whereas females preferred birds. Moreover, females consumed insects and earthworms less often than males. Interestingly, males spent significantly less time foraging than females. We have demonstrated that the white stork exhibits clear sexual differences in food preferences which are mostly attributable to differences in parental duties, physiology and anatomy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00114-017-1457-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Ecological constraints on digestive physiology in carnivorous and piscivorous birds

Cited by 26 publications

References 41 publications

Demonstration of calcium transport markers in the ceca of owls (Aves: Strigiformes), with remarks on basic ceca structure

Demonstration of calcium transport markers in the ceca of owls (Aves: Strigiformes), with remarks on basic ceca structure

Microflora in the crop of adult Dusky-billed Parrotlets (Forpus modestus)

Sexual differences in food preferences in the white stork: an experimental study

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