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Food Transit Time and Site of Absorption of Nutrients in Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon
Author(s) -
Venero Jesus A.,
Miles Richard D.,
Chapman Frank A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1080/15222055.2015.1017129
Subject(s) - biology , digestion (alchemy) , gastrointestinal tract , dry matter , nutrient , zoology , sturgeon , acipenser , fishery , anatomy , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry , ecology , chemistry , chromatography
We determined that the average gastrointestinal tract length of 8–11‐month‐old Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi , a subspecies of Atlantic Sturgeon A. oxyrinchus , was approximately 82% of its fork length. The time required for digesta to pass through the digestive tract was approximately 32 h. Defecation was initiated between 8 and 16 h after feeding. The main site for digestion and absorption of energy, dry matter, and crude protein was the spiral valve region of the intestine, as determined by apparent digestibility coefficients. By the time digesta had reached the lower spiral valve most of the energy, dry matter, and crude protein had been absorbed. Morphological examination of the intestine, including the spiral valve region, revealed a highly developed mucosal surface area, which is essential for efficient nutrient digestion and absorption during the extended period required for the digesta to move through the digestive tract.