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Milk consumption and estimates of growth energetics in pouch young of the northern brown bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus (Peramelidae, Marsupialia), in captivity
Author(s) -
Merchant J. C.,
Libke J. A.,
Newgrain K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05407.x
Subject(s) - bandicoot , biology , marsupial , captivity , weaning , zoology , energetics , pouch , ecology , anatomy
Milk consumption was measured in pouch young of the northern brown bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus , using the 22 Na turnover technique. Milk consumption rates increased from about 2.3 ml young −1 d −1 at 23 days post‐partum to about 17.2ml young −1 d −1 at 52 days, just prior to weaning. Young increased in mass from 8.5 g to around 112 g over the same period. Masś gained for each ml of milk consumed ranged from 0.28 to 0.65 gml −1 . The efficiency with which young converted milk energy and protein into body energy and protein ranged from 16.1 to 39.6% and 38.4 to 82.3%, respectively.