Digestive physiology, resting metabolism and methane production of captive Indian crested porcupine (<i>Hystrix indica</i>)

Studies on digestive physiology and feed digestibilities in captive Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).

We performed intake, digestibility and ingesta passage studies in 11 Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) from four zoological institutions, using total faecal collection for the quantification of faecal output. The regularly fed zoo ration of roughage and concentrates (ration RC) and a roughage-only ration (ration R) were used; the roughage source differed between the facilities and comp...

Gastric acid and digestive physiology.

The primary function of the stomach is to prepare food for digestion and absorption by the intestine. Acid production is the unique and central component of the stomach's contribution to the digestive process. Acid bathes the food bolus while stored in the stomach, facilitating digestion. An intact defense against mucosal damage by the stomach's acid is essential to avoid ulceration. This artic...

Ecological physiology of diet and digestive systems.

The morphological and functional design of gastrointestinal tracts of many vertebrates and invertebrates can be explained largely by the interaction between diet chemical constituents and principles of economic design, both of which are embodied in chemical reactor models of gut function. Natural selection seems to have led to the expression of digestive features that approximately match digest...

Anatomy and Physiology of the Digestive System

The effects of long-term fasting and subsequent refeeding on digestive physiology and energy metabolism

of fasting are experienced by numerous subterranean (i.e. hypogean) aquatic organisms, as many groundwater ecosystems are characterized yearly by severely limited food supplies due to lack of autotrophic production and sporadic allochthonous input (Poulson, 1964; Hüppop, 1985; Hervant et al., 1997). Even in highly productive hypogean biotopes, food resources may be extremely patchy (Malard and ...