Do nectar- and fruit-eating birds have lower nitrogen requirements than omnivores? An allometric test

Auk

Volumn 123, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 1004-1012

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

^a TECHNION ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (Israel)

^b UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA   (Israel)

^c UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING   (United States)

Author keywords

Allometry; Frugivorous birds; Minimum nitrogen requirements; Nectarivorous birds; Omnivorous birds; Phylogeny; Total endogenous nitrogen loss

Indexed keywords

ALLOMETRY; BIRD; FRUGIVORY; INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION; NECTARIVORY; NITROGEN; NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT; OMNIVORY; PHYLOGENY;

ANIMALIA; AVES;

EID: 33750447318     PISSN: 00048038     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1642/0004-8038(2006)123[1004:DNAFBH]2.0.CO;2     Document Type: Article

References (50)

1. ALLEN, L. R., AND I. D. HUME. 2001. The maintenance nitrogen requirement of the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 74:366-375.
2. BOSQUE, C., AND M. A. PACHECO. 2000. Dietary nitrogen as a limiting nutrient in frugivorous birds. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 73:441-150.
3. BRICE, A. T., AND C. R. GRAU. 1991. Protein requirements of Costa's Hummingbirds Calypte costae. Physiological Zoology 64:611-626.
4. CAMPBELL, C. E., AND E. J. BRAUN. 1986. Cecal degradation of uric acid in Gambel Quail. American Journal of Physiology 251:R59-R62.
5. 15N incorporation in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). Oecologia 144:226-232.
6. CASOTTI, G., AND E. J. BRAUN. 1997. Ionic composition of urate-containing spheres in the urine of domestic fowl. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 118A:585-588.
7. CLENCH, M. H. 1999. The avian cecum: Update and motility review. Journal of Experimental Zoology 283:441-447.
8. DAWSON, T. J., P. J. WHITEHEAD, A. MCLEAN, F. D. FANNING, AND W. R. DAWSON. 2000. Digestive function in Australian Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata). Australian Journal of Zoology 48:265-279.
9. DELORME, M., AND D. W. THOMAS. 1996. Nitrogen and energy requirements of the short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata): Fruit bats are not nitrogen constrained. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 166:427-434.
10. DELORME, M., AND D. W. THOMAS. 1999. Comparative analysis of the digestive efficiency and nitrogen and energy requirements of the phyllostomid fruit-bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) and the pteropodid fruit-bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Journal of Comparative Physiology B 169:123-132.
11. FELSENSTEIN, J. 1985. Confidence limits on phylogenies: An approach using the bootstrap. Evolution 39:783-791.
12. FRANKEL, T. L., AND D. AVRAM. 2001. Protein requirements of Rainbow Lorikeets, Trichoglossus haematodus. Australian Journal of Zoology 49:435-443.
13. GARLAND, T., JR., AND A. R. IVES. 2000. Using the past to predict the present: Confidence intervals for regression equations in phylogenetic comparative methods. American Naturalist 155:346-364.
14. GARTRELL, B. D. 2000. The nutritional, morphologic, and physiologic bases of nectar-ivory in Australian birds. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 14:85-94.
15. GOLDSTEIN, D. L., AND E. SKADHAUGE. 2000. Renal and extrarenal regulation of body fluid composition. Pages 265-297 in Sturkie's Avian Physiology, 5th ed. (G. C. Whittow, Ed.). Academic Press, San Diego, California.
16. GUNTERT, M. 1981. Morphologische Untersuchungen zur adaptiven Radiation des Verdauungstraktes bei Papageien (Psittaci). Zoologisches Jahrbuch der Anatomie 106:471-526.
17. IZHAKI, I. 1993. Influence of nonprotein nitrogen on estimation of protein from total nitrogen in fleshy fruits. Journal of Chemical Ecology 19:2605-2615.
18. KARASAWA, Y. 1999. Significant role of the nitrogen recycling system through the ceca occurs in protein-depleted chickens. Journal of Experimental Zoology 283:418-425.
19. KARASAWA, Y., M. OKAMOTO, AND H. KAWAI. 1988. Ammonia production from uric acid and its absorption from the caecum of the cockerel. British Poultry Science 29:119-124.
20. KARASAWA, Y., T. ONO, AND K. KOH. 1993. Relationship of decreased caecal urease activity by dietary penicillin to nitrogen utilisation in chickens fed on a low protein diet plus urea. British Poultry Science 35:91-96.
21. 15N) urea in chicken ceca. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 111A:223-227.
22. KLASING, K. C. 1998. Comparative Avian Nutrition. CAB International, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
23. KORINE, C., Z. ARAD, AND A. ARIELI. 1996. Nitrogen and energy balance of the fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus on natural fruit diets. Physiological Zoology 69:618-634.
24. LEVEILLE, G. A., AND H. FISHER. 1958. The amino acid requirements for maintenance in the adult rooster. I. Nitrogen and energy requirements in normal and protein-depleted animals receiving whole egg protein and amino acid diets. Journal of Nutrition 66:441-453.
25. LÓPEZ-CALLEJA, M. V., M. J. FERNÁNDEZ, AND F. BOZINOVIC. 2003. The integration of energy and nitrogen balance in the hummingbird Sephanoides sephaniodes. Journal of Experimental Biology 206:3349-3359
26. MATTSON, W. J., JR. 1980. Herbivory in relation to plant nitrogen content. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 11:119-161.
27. MCWHORTER, T. J. 1997. Energy assimilation, protein balance, and water absorption in Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds, Selasphorus platycercus. M.S. thesis, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
28. MCWHORTER, T. J., D. R. POWERS, AND C. MARTÍNEZ DEL Rio. 2003. Are hummingbirds facultatively ammonotelic? Nitrogen excretion and requirements as a function of body size. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 76:731-743.
29. MORAN, E. T., P. R. FERKET, AND J. R. BLACKMAN. 1983. Maintenance nitrogen requirement of the turkey breeder hen with an estimate of associated essential amino acid needs. Poultry Science 62:1823-1829.
30. MORTENSEN, A., AND A. R. TINDALL. 1981. Caecal decomposition of uric acid in captive and free ranging Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus). Acta Physiolgica Scandinavica 111:129-133.
31. MURPHY, M. E. 1993. The protein requirement for maintenance in the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71:2111-2120.
32. PATON, D. C. 1982. The diet of the New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae. Australian Journal of Ecology 7:279-298.
33. PREEST, M. R., D. G. FOLK, AND C. A. BEUCHAT. 2003. Decomposition of nitrogenous compounds by intestinal bacteria in hummingbirds. Auk 120:1091-1101.
34. PRYOR, G. S. 2003. Protein requirements of three species of parrots with distinct dietary specializations. Zoo Biology 22:163-177.
35. PRYOR, G. S., D. J. LEVEY, AND E. S. DIERENFELD. 2001. Protein requirements of a specialized frugivore, Pesquet's Parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus). Auk 118:1080-1088.
36. ROBBINS, C. T. 1993. Wildlife Feeding and Nutrition, 2nd ed. Academic Press, San Diego, California.
37. ROXBURGH, L., AND B. PINSHOW. 2000. Nitrogen requirements of an Old World nectarivore, the Orange-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia osea. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 73:638-645.
38. ROXBURGH, L., AND B. PINSHOW. 2002. Ammonotely in a passerine nectarivore: The influence of renal and post-renal modification on nitrogenous waste product excretion. Journal of Experimental Biology 205:1735-1745.
39. SCHONDUBE, J. E., L. G. HERRERA M., AND C. MARTÍNEZ DEL Rio. 2001. Diet and the evolution of digestion and renal function in phyllostomid bats. Zoology 104:59-73.
40. SCHONDUBE, J. E., AND C. MARTÍNEZ DEL Rio. 2004. Sugar and protein digestion in flowerpiercers and hummingbirds: A comparative test of adaptive convergence. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 174:263-273.
41. SIBLEY, C. G., AND J. E. AHLQUIST. 1991. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.
42. SMITH, A. P., AND S. W. GREEN. 1987. Nitrogen requirements of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), an omnivorous marsupial, on a honey-pollen diet. Physiological Zoology 60:82-92.
43. SON, J. H., AND Y. KARASAWA. 2000. Effect of removal of caecal contents on nitrogen utilisation and nitrogen excretion in caecally ligated chickens fed on a low protein diet supplemented with urea. British Poultry Science 41:69-71.
44. TSAHAR, E., C. MARTÍNEZ DEL RIO, Z. ARAD, J. P. JOY, AND I. IZHAKI. 2005a. 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 78:239-245.
45. TSAHAR, E., C. MARTÍNEZ DEL RIO, I. IZHAKI, AND Z. ARAD. 2005b. Can birds be ammonotelic? Nitrogen balance and excretion in two frugivores. Journal of Experimental Biology 208:1025-1034.
46. VAN TETS, I. G., AND S. W. NICOLSON. 2000. Pollen and the nitrogen requirements of the Lesser Double-collared Sunbird. Auk 117:826-830.
47. WEGLARCZYK, G. 1981. Nitrogen balance and energy efficiency of protein deposition of the House Sparrow Passer domesticus (L.). Ekologia Polska 29:519-533.
48. WHITE, T. C. R. 1993. The Inadequate Environment: Nitrogen and the Abundance of Animals. Springer-Verlag, New York.
49. WITMER, M. C. 1998. Ecological and evolutionary implications of energy and protein requirements of avian frugivores eating sugary diets. Physiological Zoology 71:599-610.
50. WITMER, M. C., AND C. MARTÍNEZ DEL RIO. 2001. The membrane-bound intestinal enzymes of Cedar Waxwings and thrushes. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 74:584-593.