Are the low protein requirements of nectarivorous birds the consequence of their sugary and watery diet? A test with an omnivore

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

Volumn 78, Issue 2, 2005, Pages 239-245

  Tsahar, Ella ^a   Martínez Del Rio, Carlos ^b   Arad, Zeev ^a   Joy, Jeannine P ^b   Izhaki, Ido ^c  

^a TECHNION ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (Israel)

^b UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA   (Israel)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AMMONIA; NITROGEN;

BIRD; DIET; NECTARIVORY; PROTEIN;

ADAPTATION; ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE; ANIMAL; ARTICLE; CHEMISTRY; COMPARATIVE STUDY; FECES; METABOLISM; PHYSIOLOGY; PROTEIN INTAKE; STARLING; SUGAR INTAKE; URETER; URINE;

ADAPTATION, PHYSIOLOGICAL; AMMONIA; ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE; ANIMALS; DIETARY PROTEINS; DIETARY SUCROSE; FECES; NITROGEN; STARLINGS; URETER;

AVES; STURNIDAE; STURNUS VULGARIS;

EID: 16244399205     PISSN: 15222152     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1086/427056     Document Type: Article

References (36)

1. Beuchat C.A., S.S. Chaplin, and M.L. Morton. 1979. Ambient temperature and the daily energetics of two species of hummingbirds Calypte anna and Selasphorus rufus. Physiol Zool 52:280-295.
2. Brice A.T. and C.R. Grau. 1989. Hummingbird nutrition: development of a purified diet for long-term maintenance. Zoo Biol 8:233-237.
3. _. 1991. Protein requirements of Costa's hummingbirds Calypte costae. Physiol Zool 64:611-626.
4. Campbell C.E. and E.J. Braun. 1986. Cecal degradation of uric acid in Gambel's quail. Am J Physiol. 251:R59-R62.
5. Clench M.H. 1999. The avian cecum: update and motility review. J Exp Zool 283:441-447.
6. Delorme M. and D.W. Thomas. 1999. Nitrogen and energy requirements of the short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata): fruit bats are not nitrogen constrained. J Comp Physiol B 166:427-434.
7. Diamond J.M., W.H. Karasov, D. Phan, and F.L. Carpenter. 1986. Digestive physiology is a determinant of foraging bout frequency in hummingbirds. Nature 320:62-63.
8. Dresselberger H. 1932. Ueben der Verdauungskanal nektarfressender. J Ornithol 80:309-318.
9. Florini J.R. 1987. Hormonal control of muscle growth. Muscle Nerve 10:577-598.
10. Fukagawa N.K., K.L. Minaker, J.W. Rowe, M.N. Goodman, D.E. Matthews, D.M Bier, and V.R. Young. 1985. Insulin-mediated reduction of whole body protein break-down. J Clin Investig 76:2306-2311.
11. Goldstein D.L. and E.J. Braun. 1986. Lower intestinal modification of ureteral urine in hydrated house sparrows. Am J Physiol. 250:R89-R95.
12. Karasawa Y., M. Okamoto, and H. Kawai. 1988. Ammonia production from uric acid and its absorption from caecum of the cockerel. Br Poult Sci 29:119-124.
13. Karasov W.H., D. Phan, J.M. Diamond, and F.L. Carpenter. 1986. Food passage and intestinal nutrient absorption in hummingbirds. Auk 103:453-464.
14. Klasing K.C. 1998. Comparative Avian Nutrition. CAB International, Wallingford.
15. Korine C., Z. Arad, and A. Arieli. 1996. Nitrogen and energy balance of the fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus on natural fruit diets. Physiol Zool 69:618-634.
16. Laverty G. and R.J. Wideman. 1989. Sodium excretion rates and renal responses to acute salt loading in the European starling. J Comp Physiol B 159:401-408.
17. Martínez del Rio C. 1990a. Dietary, phylogeny, and ecological correlates of intestine sucrase and maltase activity in birds. Physiol Zool 63:987-1011.
18. _. 1990b. Sugar preference in hummingbirds: the influence of subtle chemical differences on food choice. Condor 92:1022-1030.
19. _. 1994. Nutritional ecology of fruit-eating and flower-visiting birds and bats. Pages 103-127 in D. Chivers and P. Langer, eds. The Digestive System: Food, Form and Function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
20. Martinez del Rio C., J.E. Shondube, T.J. McWhorter, and L.G. Herrera. 2001. Intake responses in nectar feeding birds: digestive and metabolic causes, osmoregulatory consequences, and coevolutionary effects. Am Zool 41:902-915.
21. Martínez del Rio C. and B.R. Stevens. 1989. Physiological constraint on feeding behavior: intestinal-membrane disaccharidases of the starling. Science 243:794-796.
22. McWhorter T.J., D.R. Powers, and C. Martínez del Rio. 2003. Are hummingbirds facultative ammonotelic? nitrogen excretion and requirements as a function of body size. Physiol Biochem Zool. 76:731-743.
23. Mead G.C. 1997. Bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of birds. Pp. 216-240 in R. Mackie, B.A. White, and R.E. Isaacson, eds. Gastrointestinal Microbiology. International Thomson, New York.
24. Mortensen A. and A.R. Tindall. 1981. Caecal decomposition of uric acid in captive and free ranging willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus). Acta Physiol Scand 111:129-133.
25. Paton D.C. and B.C. Collin. 1989. Bill and tongues of nectarfeeding birds: a review of morphology, function and performance, with intercontinental comparison. Aust J Ecol 14:473-506.
26. Preest M.R. and C.A. Beuchat. 1997. Ammonia excretion by hummingbirds. Nature 386:561-562.
27. Preest M.R., D.G. Folk, and C.A. Beuchat. 2003. Decomposition of nitrogenous compounds by intestinal bacteria in hummingbirds. Auk 120:1091-1101.
28. Pryor G.S., D.J. Levey, and E.S. Dierenfeld. 2001. Protein requirements of a specialized frugivore, Pesquet's parrot (Psittichas fulgidus). Auk 118:1080-1088.
29. Robbins C.T. 1993. Wildlife Feeding and Nutrition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
30. Roxburgh L. and B. Pinshow. 2000. Nitrogen requirements of an Old World nectarivore, the orange-tufted sunbird Nectarinia osea. Physiol Biochem Zool 73:638-645.
31. _. 2002. Ammonotely in a passerine nectarivore: the influence of renal and post-renal modification on nitrogenous waste product excretion. J Exp Biol 205:1735-1745.
32. Son J.H. and Y.K. Karasawa. 2000. Effect of removal of caecal contents on nitrogen utilization and nitrogen excretion in caecally ligated chickens fed on a low protein diet supplemented with urea. Br Poult Sci 41:69-71.
33. van Tets I.G. and A.J. Hulbert. 1999. A comparison of the nitrogen requirements of the eastern pygmy possum, Cercattetus nanus, on a pollen and on a mealworm diet. Physiol Biochem Zool 72:127-137.
34. van Tets I.G. and W.S. Nicolson. 2000. Pollen and the nitrogen requirements of the lesser double-collared sunbird. Auk 117:826-830.
35. Witmer M.C. 1998. Ecological and evolutionary implications of energy and protein requirements of avian frugivores eating sugary diets. Physiol Zool 71:599-610.
36. Wright P.A. 1995. Nitrogen excretion: three end products, many physiological roles. J Exp Biol 198:273-281.