In vivo digestibility trials of a captive polar bear (Ursus maritimus) feeding on harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus).

摘要: Energetic requirements of free-ranging polar bears are still poorly understood due to the limited information available. The need for such data is emphasized through imminent climatic changes impacting wild populations, and recent development energy-based population forecast models that data-limited. We therefore conducted four feeding trials with a captive bear investigate how 2 novel untested diets as Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) harp seal meat/fat (Pagophilus groenlandicus) digested energetically utilized. Energy content, proximate nutrient values, digestive efficiency, metabolizable energy (ME) requirements, body mass change associated these were quantified. diet (1:1 ratio) had 1.5 times greater digestible content (kg DM basis) than diet. Digestibility coefficients nutrients (organic matter, crude protein, fat) both high (> 0.960), which corresponds well other carnivores, fatty diets. Body increased significantly over course trials, consuming an average 403 1149 kJ/kg BM 0.75 ME per day meat/fat, respectively. It was discovered daily our adult, non-reproducing lower previously estimated (~ 1.4 instead basic metabolic rate). Despite limitations, we provide baseline should be evaluated during further trials.