Relationships of Avian Cecal Lengths to Food Habits, Taxonomic Position, and Intestinal Lengths

DeGolier, Teresa; Mahoney, Sheila A.; Duke, Gary E.

doi:10.2307/1370192

Cited by 36 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Previous research suggests that the avian digestive tract is a suitable organ to study the basic mechanism of phenotypic structural variation (Starck, 1999b;Guglielmo and Williams, 2003;Karasov et al, 2004;Lavin et al, 2008). Among others, we suggest the following causes: (1) The morphologies of avian digestive tracts are correlated with food composition; frugivorous and nectar-feeding birds have smaller and shorter digestive tracts than granivorous and insectivorous species (Kehoe and Ankney, 1985;Levey and Karasov, 1989;Barton and Houston, 1994;DeGolier et al, 1999). (2) Many avian species change their diet throughout the year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls (pycnonotus sinensis)

Xiao

Yang

et al. 2014

Avian Res

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Background: Seasonal adjustments in body mass and energy budget are important for the survival of small birds in temperate zones. Seasonal changes in body mass, body temperature, gross energy intake (GEI), digestible energy intake (DEI), body fat content, as well as length and mass of the digestive tract, were measured in Chinese Bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) caught in the wild at Wenzhou, China. Methods: Body mass was determined with a Sartorius balance. The caloric contents of the dried food and feces were then determined using a oxygen bomb calorimeter. Total fat was extracted from the dried carcasses by ether extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus. The digestive tract of each bird was measured and weighed, and was then dried to a constant mass. Results: Body mass showed a significant seasonal variation and was higher in spring and winter than in summer and autumn. Body fat was higher in winter than in other seasons. GEI and DEI were significantly higher in winter. The length and mass of the digestive tract were greatest in winter and the magnitude of both these parameters was positively correlated with body mass, GEI and DEI. Small passerines typically have higher daily energy expenditure in winter, necessitating increased food consumption. Conclusions: This general observation is consistent with the observed winter increase in gut volume and body mass in Chinese Bulbuls. These results suggest that Chinese Bulbuls adjust to winter conditions by increasing their body mass, body fat, GEI, DEI and digestive tract size.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls (pycnonotus sinensis)

Xiao

Yang

et al. 2014

Avian Res

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“…However, dietary strategies and gut anatomies vary widely between avian taxa. Pigeons (Columbiformes), parrots (Psittaciformes) and many fowl (Galliformes) are all granivorous, yet only Galliformes maintain cecal chambers that house microbes (DeGolier et al 1999). Similarly, eagles, hawks, and falcons (Falconiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) share similar carnivorous diets, yet only owls maintain ceca (DeGolier et al 1999).…”

Section: Physiological Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pigeons (Columbiformes), parrots (Psittaciformes) and many fowl (Galliformes) are all granivorous, yet only Galliformes maintain cecal chambers that house microbes (DeGolier et al 1999). Similarly, eagles, hawks, and falcons (Falconiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) share similar carnivorous diets, yet only owls maintain ceca (DeGolier et al 1999). Comparative approaches between taxa will illustrate how dietary strategy, gut anatomy, as well as how variation in microbial communities might influence host-microbe relationships in avian taxa.…”

Section: Physiological Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and function of the avian gut microbiota

2012

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The intestinal microbiota have now been shown to largely affect host health through various functional roles in terms of nutrition, immunity, and other physiological systems. However, the majority of these studies have been carried out in mammalian hosts, which differ in their physiological traits from other taxa. For example, birds possess several unique life history traits, such as hatching from eggs, which may alter the interactions with and transmission of intestinal microbes compared to most mammals. This review covers the diversity of microbial taxa hosted by birds. It also discusses how avian microbial communities strongly influence nutrition, immune function, and processing of toxins in avian hosts, in manners similar to and different from mammalian systems. Finally, areas demanding further research are identified, along with descriptions of existing techniques that could be employed to answer these questions.

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“…The longest caeca occur in herbivorous species, with a poorly-developed or non-existant caeca in nectarivorous, insectivorous, and piscivorous avian species. Caeca length (Table 1) and the proportion of caeca to total intestinal length, correspond to values derived for omnivorous and insectivorous avian species (DeGolier et al, 1999).…”

Section: Anatomymentioning

confidence: 62%

“…The avian caeca are related to bacterial fermentation, nitrogen recycling, osmoregulation, nutrient absorption, bacterial synthesis of vitamins, and immunological response (Clench & Mathias, 1995;DeGolier et al, 1999). The longest caeca occur in herbivorous species, with a poorly-developed or non-existant caeca in nectarivorous, insectivorous, and piscivorous avian species.…”

Section: Anatomymentioning

confidence: 99%