Gut morphology of mallards in relation to diet quality
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Abstract
Digestive organ lengths, weights, and volumes in each of three groups of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were determined at the end of a 21-day period, during which one group was starter (control diet), another group was fed whole corn (low fiber content), and the third fed alfalfa pellets (high fiber content) to demonstrate the adaptive efficiency of the waterfowl diets of varying quality. Food consumption by the alfalfa-fed ducks was significantly gr 0.01) than the other two groups. All digestive organs of the alfalfa-fed ducks were significan (P < 0.01) than those of the corn- and turkey starter-fed ducks at the end of the study. It is that mallards can adapt rapidly to fibrous, relatively indigestible foods. This ability may hav value when higher quality foods are unavailable or when food habits change rapidly duritions.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Gut morphology of mallards in relation to diet quality |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3800481 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 1975 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 168 |
| Last page | 173 |