eCite Digital Repository
Enzymatic digestion in stomachless fishes: how a simple gut accommodates both herbivory and carnivory
Citation
Day, RD and German, DP and Manjakasy, JM and Farr, I and Hansen, MJ and Tibbetts, IR, Enzymatic digestion in stomachless fishes: how a simple gut accommodates both herbivory and carnivory, Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, 181, (5) pp. 603-613. ISSN 0174-1578 (2011) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 Springer
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00360-010-0546-y
Abstract
The lack of a stomach is not uncommon amongst teleost fishes, yet our understanding of this reductive specialisation is lacking. The absence of a stomach does not restrict trophic preference, resulting in fishes with very similar alimentary morphology capable of digesting differing diets. We examined the digestive biochemistry of four beloniform fishes: two herbivorous halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae) and two carnivorous needlefish (Belonidae) to determine how these fishes digest their respective diets with their simple, short gut. We found that although the halfbeaks showed significantly greater α-amylase activity than that of the needlefish (P < 0.01), trypsin, lipase, aminopeptidase and maltase activity were not substantially different between the two families. We also found that habitat (freshwater vs. marine) appears to play a significant role in digestive capability, as the two freshwater taxa and the two marine taxa were significantly different (ANOSIM; dietary Gobal R = 0.544, P = 0.001, habitat Global R = 0.437, P = 0.001), despite their phyletic and dietary similarities. Our findings offer partial support for the adaptive modulation hypothesis, support the Plug-Flow Reactor model of digestion in herbivorous halfbeaks and also support the compartmental model of digestion but suggest that another model is required to describe stomachless carnivorous needlefish.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Hemiramphidae, Belonidae, adaptive modulation hypothesis, compartmental model, plug-flow reactor, salinity |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Zoology |
Research Field: | Animal structure and function |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Marine biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Day, RD (Dr Ryan Day) |
ID Code: | 95695 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 31 |
Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
Deposited On: | 2014-10-07 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-31 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page