Seasonal changes in food selection and nutrition of captive platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Thomas ◽  
Kathrine A. Handasyde ◽  
Peter Temple-Smith ◽  
Marissa L. Parrott
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Anecdotal observations of captive platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) suggest that they show a seasonal preference for particular foods, but this has never been rigorously measured. This study aimed to determine seasonal food preferences and energy consumption of captive platypuses so that better protocols for maintaining platypuses in captivity can be developed. Seven platypuses were fed an ad libitum diet with all food items weighed in and out of tanks. Food items were analysed for energy, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Platypuses preferred less mobile prey (mealworms, earthworms and fly pupae) over highly mobile prey (crayfish). There was no significant seasonal change in preference for different dietary items, which is more likely to be driven by prey behaviour. Crayfish contributed the largest percentage (mass) consumed and was highly nutritious. While the relative percentage of items in the diet did not change seasonally, the quantity eaten did. The mean energy intake of platypuses was 921 kJ kg–1 day–1 and varied seasonally, being lowest during the breeding season (810 kJ kg–1 day–1) and highest in the postbreeding season (1007 kJ kg–1 day–1). These changes were associated with preparation and recovery from the breeding season. We conclude that the platypus diet is influenced by nutrition and seasonal factors as well as by prey behaviour. This knowledge will contribute to improving the husbandry and management of platypuses, which are widely recognised as difficult to maintain in captivity.

scholarly journals Testicular expression of NGF, TrkA and p75 during seasonal spermatogenesis of the wild ground squirrel (Citellus dauricus Brandt)

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Zhang ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
J. Zhang ◽  
L. Wang ◽  
Q. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Testicular Function ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Function Change ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Neuronal Systems

The nerve growth factor (NGF) not only has an essential effect on the nervous system, but also plays an important role in a variety of non-neuronal systems, such as the reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal changes in<strong> </strong>expression of NGF and its receptors (TrkA and p75) in testes of the wild ground squirrel during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons.<strong> </strong>Immunolocalization for NGF was detected mainly in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells in testes of the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The immunoreactivity of TrkA was highest in the elongated spermatids, whereas p75 in spermatogonia and spermatocytes in testes of the breeding season. In the nonbreeding season testes, TrkA showed positive immunostainings in Leydig cells, spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, while p75 showed positive signals in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. Consistent with the immunohistochemical results, the mean mRNA and protein level of NGF and TrkA were higher in the testes of the breeding season, and then decreased to a relatively low level in the nonbreeding season. In addition, the concentration of plasma gonadotropins and testosterone were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the results showed a significant seasonal change between the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. To conclude, these results of this study provide the first evidence on the potential involvement of NGF and its receptor, TrkA and p75 in the seasonal spermatogenesis and testicular function change of the wild ground squirrel.

scholarly journals Food preferences of cockatiel chicks ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) in captivity

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-686
Author(s):  
D.A.S. Naves ◽  
T.S.G. Carvalho ◽  
M.G. Zangeronimo ◽  
C.E.P. Saad ◽  
J.D. Scalon
Keyword(s):  
Food Preferences ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Nymphicus Hollandicus ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Seed Mixture ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Extruded Feed ◽  
Incandescent Lamps

ABSTRACT In order to improve the management and maintenance of the quality of life of captive wild birds, this study aimed to assess the food preferences of cockatiel chicks (Nymphicus hollandicus) kept in captivity. Thirty-two cockatiel chicks, three to 12 months of age, were kept in a galvanized, wire-netted vivarium with six ceramic feeders, two for an extruded diet, two for a dry-mashed diet and two for a seed mixture. Both extruded and dry-mashed food are commercial psittacine diets. Three round ceramic pots were used to provide water. The birds were exposed to 12 hours of artificial light (40 W incandescent lamps) during the experimental period of 27 days. The birds were observed by video filming, daily, through an ad libitum observation technique. The food consumption was 3.34±0.42g/bird/day of extruded feed, 1.58±0.44g/bird/day of dry-mashed diet and 3.73±0.10g/bird/day of seed mixture. In conclusion, the cockatiel chicks preferred the seed mixture and the extruded food over the dry-mashed diet.

The effect of daylength and nutrition on the oestrous and ovulatory activity of Greyface ewes

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
J. S. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Abrupt Decrease ◽  
Repeated Observations ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Natural Breeding

SUMMARYThe onset and duration of oestrous and ovulatory activity in 26 Greyface ewes receiving natural daylength changes were determined. Precise ovulation data were obtained by endoscopy and repeated observations of the ovaries of all ewes were made on 10 occasions from 15 July 1971 to 27 June 1972. The natural breeding season for these Greyface ewes was, on average, 22 September 1971 to 18 February 1972. There were significant seasonal changes in the mean ovulation rate of the ewes which appeared to be inversely related to seasonal changes in natural daylength.An abrupt decrease in artificial daylength of 11 -43 hr applied on 22 June 1971 to 28 similar Greyface ewes advanced their mean onset of oestrous activity by 23 days. The decrease in artificial daylength also advanced the occurrence of ovulation in these ewes. The highest mean ovulation rate of the ewes receiving the decrease in artificial daylength was at least as high as the peak mean ovulation rate measured in the control ewes.At most stages of the experiment, the plane of nutrition had no significant effect on either oestrous or ovulatory activity in the ewes.

Effect of body weight on the attainment of puberty and reproductive performance of Galway and Fingalway female lambs

1979 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Quirke
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTGroups of spring-born Galway (G) and Fingalway (F) ewe lambs were fed a concentrate diet either ad libitum (H) or at a restricted level (L) during the period 25 July to 16 October 1974 in order to induce differences in body weight at the start of the breeding season. The mean live weights of the GL, GH, FL and FH groups on 16 October 1974 were 37·8 ± 1·3, 44·6 ± 1·3, 35·1 ± 1·1 and 41·9 ± 1·2 kg respectively. More than 95% of the lambs in all four groups attained puberty before 28 February 1975. Galway ewe lambs reached puberty later in the breeding season and were older and heavier at puberty than Fingalways. Animals fed ad libitum were heavier at puberty and attained puberty earlier in the season and at a younger age than those on the restricted feeding regime.Both conception rate and litter size were lower in Galways than Fingalways. There was no evidence of any effect of the nutritional treatments on conception rate or litter size. The mean body weights at puberty for ewes which lambed and those which were barren were 41·9 ± 0·49 and 41·5 ± 0·78 kg respectively. The birth weight and growth rate of the progeny of the ewe lambs was similar for the two breeds and was not influenced by the previous nutritional treatment of the dams. The total lamb mortality between birth and weaning was 40·3%, and 72% of all deaths occurred within 48 h of birth. Losses among twins (48%) were particularly heavy.

Seasonal Studies of Body Condition in Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Managed in Captivity at Healesville Sanctuary.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
D.L. McDonald ◽  
L. Fisk ◽  
B. Krueger
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
In Captivity

Platypuses at Healesville Sanctuary are managed so that the animals are physically examined on a daily basis before being allowed access to the display areas. This enables staff to monitor the health status of each animal by recording its weight and checking for any other physical abnormalities. Weights have been monitored for over ten years and the data presented here depicts seasonal changes and those associated with adaptation to a captive environment. Platypuses are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment and many wild platypuses do not adapt well to a captive environment. When platypuses are brought into the Sanctuary (whether for display purposes or due to injury) they are monitored on a daily basis for any weight changes and other obvious abnormalities. Monitoring of weight changes is continued on a daily basis throughout the captive life of the platypus to assess seasonal changes and any changes associated with reproductive status.

STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE MUSKRAT IN MANITOBA: PART I. OESTROUS CYCLE AND BREEDING SEASON

1952 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-253
Author(s):  
J. A. McLeod ◽  
G. F. Bondar
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Minimum Time ◽  
Vaginal Smear ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Mean Time

A study of oestrus in female muskrats was conducted during the summers of 1950 and 1951 as part of a five year investigation of the biology of the muskrat in Manitoba. Two captive females examined daily by the vaginal smear method from June 30 to Aug. 10, 1950, inconclusively indicated an oestrous cycle length of about 30 days which agreed with the findings of Beer on Wisconsin muskrats. In 9151 10 female muskrats of various ages and of different lengths of time in captivity were examined daily beginning on March 13 and continuing until August 15. The data obtained at this time showed a considerable variation in the lengths of the oestrous cycles in different females or, even, in the same individual from time to time. The minimum time required for the completion of an oestrous cycle was found to be two days while the maximum time observed was 22 days. On the basis of 136 complete oestrous cycles studied, the modal time was found to be approximately four days and the mean time 6.1 days. The longer cycles found by ourselves in 1950 and by Beer are interpreted as representing pseudopregnancies and not oestrous cycles. Failure of muskrats to mate in captivity or in the wild during the latter part of the summer is attributed to sexual inactivity of the males and not the females.

Seasonal Changes in Food Preferences of American Robins in Captivity

The Auk ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 374-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel T. Wheelwright
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
American Robins ◽  
In Captivity

scholarly journals Food Preferences of Patients with Citrin Deficiency

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3123
Author(s):  
Miki Okamoto ◽  
Yoshiyuki Okano ◽  
Mai Okano ◽  
Masahide Yazaki ◽  
Ayano Inui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Preference ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Daily Diet ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low Carbohydrate ◽  
Citrin Deficiency ◽  
Nutritional Balance

Citrin deficiency is characterized by a wide range of symptoms from infancy through adulthood and presents a distinct preference for a diet composed of high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrate. The present study elucidates the important criteria by patients with citrin deficiency for food selection through detailed analysis of their food preferences. The survey was conducted in 70 citrin-deficient patients aged 2–63 years and 55 control subjects aged 2–74 years and inquired about their preference for 435 food items using a scale of 1–4 (the higher, the more favored). The results showed that the foods marked as “dislike” accounted for 36.5% in the patient group, significantly higher than the 16.0% in the controls. The results also showed that patients clearly disliked foods with 20–24 (% of energy) or less protein, 45–54% (of energy) or less fat, and 30–39% (of energy) or more carbohydrate. Multiple regression analysis showed carbohydrates had the strongest influence on patients’ food preference (β = −0.503). It also showed female patients had a stronger aversion to foods with high carbohydrates than males. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate energy ratio (PFC) of highly favored foods among patients was almost the same as the average PFC ratio of their daily diet (protein 20–22: fat 47–51: carbohydrates 28–32). The data strongly suggest that from early infancy, patients start aspiring to a nutritional balance that can compensate for the metabolism dissonance caused by citrin deficiency in every food.

scholarly journals Sip size of orangeade: effects on intake and sensory-specific satiation

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 1091-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascalle L. G. Weijzen ◽  
Paul A. M. Smeets ◽  
Cees de Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Reward Value ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Sip Size

Sensory-specific satiation (SSS) drives food selection and contributes to meal termination. We hypothesised that smaller sips would increase SSS due to increased oro-sensory exposure, irrespective of energy content. The objective was to determine the effects of sip size and energy content on ad libitum intake of orangeade and subjective SSS for orangeade. Orangeade intake and ratings of wanting and liking were measured before and after ad libitum orangeade consumption in a 2 × 2 cross-over design (n 53). Conditions differed in energy content (no-energy v. regular-energy orangeade) and in sip size (large, 20 g/sip v. small, 5 g/sip). The mean intake of both orangeades was lower when consumed with small sips than when consumed with large sips (regular-energy, 352 v. 493 g; no-energy, 338 v. 405 g; both P < 0·001). When consumed with large sips, the mean intake of no-energy orangeade was lower than that of regular-energy orangeade (P = 0·02). When consumed with small sips, subjective SSS (based on the desire to drink) was higher for no-energy orangeade than for regular-energy orangeade (P = 0·01), while mean intake was comparable. We concluded that smaller sip size, i.e. increased oro-sensory exposure per unit of consumption, can lower intake of sweet drinks. Only with low oro-sensory exposure (large sip size) was intake higher for an energy-containing sweet drink than for a no-energy sweet drink. This suggests that intake of sweet drinks is stimulated by (metabolic) reward value and inhibited by sensory satiation. This underpins the importance of SSS for meal termination.

A note on the performance and management of calves reared on cold acidified milk replacer fed ad libitum

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Thickett ◽  
N. H. Cuthbert ◽  
T. D. A. Brigstocke ◽  
M. A. Lindeman ◽  
P. N. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Milk Powder ◽  
Skim Milk ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Skim Milk Powder ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Bull Calves ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Dry Food

ABSTRACTResults are presented from six trials dealing with aspects of management on the cold ad libitum system of calf rearing using an acidified milk replacer containing over 600 g skim milk powder per kg.Thirty-six calves were housed in pens of six for each trial and were fed through a teat and pipeline from a storage barrel. Acidified milk replacer, pH 5·6, was mixed cold at 125 g/1 and made available ad libitum to 3 weeks. A rationed allowance was given daily, on a reducing scale, over the following 2 weeks with weaning completed at 35 days. A pelleted dry food containing 180 g crude protein per kg, together with water in buckets and barley straw in racks, was available ad libitum throughout. Each trial lasted 8 weeks. Results for the mean of the six cold ad libitum trials involving 216 calves were compared with the mean results of 10 conventional bucket-fed trials carried out separately at the same unit, involving 912 calves. All calves were purchased British Friesian male (bull) calves.Calves on the ad libitum system showed improved live-weight gains of 9·4 kg at 3 weeks, 8·8 kg at 5 weeks and 7·5 kg at 8 weeks, compared with the conventional system. The consumption of milk replacer powder was higher in ad libitum trials at 29·4 kg cf. 12·5 kg by bucket but intake of pelleted dry feed was lower on the ad libitum system at 50·7 kg cf. 71·3 kg to 8 weeks. Calf appearance scores were significantly improved on the ad libitum system which gave the main improvement in performance in the first 3 weeks.

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