Effect of ascorbic acid on food preference and consumption in captive capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
The aim of this work was to study the short and long term influences of ascorbic acid on Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, if supplemented in their food. No differences regarding food intake were observed in the absence of vitamin C. On a daily basis, animals accustomed to food containing ascorbic acid pre...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Artículo publishedVersion |
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2009
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| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_15168913_v52_n3_p593_Alvarez http://repositoriouba.sisbi.uba.ar/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.cgi?a=d&c=artiaex&d=paper_15168913_v52_n3_p593_Alvarez_oai |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | The aim of this work was to study the short and long term influences of ascorbic acid on Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, if supplemented in their food. No differences regarding food intake were observed in the absence of vitamin C. On a daily basis, animals accustomed to food containing ascorbic acid prefered to continue eating the same food. Food preference in capybaras did not seem to depend on ascorbic acid availability; however, when accustomed to vitamin C, capybaras might recognize and select ascorbic acid in subsequent food. Mechanisms allowing capybaras to "evaluate" the nutritional quality of their food are discussed, as well as the adaptive value of this behavior in free ranging populations. © 2009 Tecpar. |
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