Digestive Efficiencies of Ex Situ and In Situ West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)

Digestive efficiencies (D m) of ex situ and in situ manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) were, for the first time, assessed using manganese (Mn2+) as a naturally occurring marker. TheD mof ex situ manatees determined using [Mn2+] did not differ significantly from theD massessed using lignin, su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiological and biochemical zoology 2014-01, Vol.87 (1), p.77-91
Main Authors: Worthy, Graham A. J., Worthy, Tamara A. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal digestion
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Biomarkers - metabolism
Conservation of Natural Resources
Diet
Digestion
Environment
Female
Florida
Fresh water
Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism
Lignin
Male
Manatees
Manganese
Manganese - metabolism
Marine
Plants
Trichechus manatus - physiology
Trichechus manatus latirostris
Vegetation
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Summary:Digestive efficiencies (D m) of ex situ and in situ manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) were, for the first time, assessed using manganese (Mn2+) as a naturally occurring marker. TheD mof ex situ manatees determined using [Mn2+] did not differ significantly from theD massessed using lignin, supporting the efficacy of the manganese approach. Gastrointestinal tract samples, obtained from recently dead animals, showed [Mn2+] concentrations were lowest in the stomach and remained low in the duodenum and small intestine but increased in the cecum, colon, and rectum, consistent with colonic digestion and absorption. In situ manatees consuming marine vegetation had significantly lowerD m(mean ± SE, ; ) than did in situ manatees consuming freshwater vegetation ( ; ), which in turn had significantly lower values than did ex situ manatees consuming lettuce ( ; ). In situ manatees eating seagrasses had significantly higherD mthan did long-term ex situ animals consuming seagrass for short periods of time ( vs. , respectively), suggesting potential modification of gut flora over time. One significant ramification of our results is that manatees consuming seagrasses would require a greater standing biomass to support their needs than would be required if they were eating freshwater vegetation. This reinforces the critical need to implement habitat conservation and protection before considering downlisting or delisting manatees as an endangered species.
ISSN:1522-2152
1537-5293
DOI:10.1086/673545