Effects of food intake on digesta passage time in captive Japanese martens (Martes melampus) and implications for endozoochorous seed dispersal

摘要: Abstract. To examine the effects of food intake on gastrointestinal passage time seeds in Japanese marten (Martes melampus), we conducted four feeding experiments using captive animals (n = 4). We estimated variables (transit and mean retention time) plant (two types) two different numbers chicks (single three) representing seasons when animal prey is abundant/scarce. There was no significant relationship between time, seed type did not affect variables. Our results were to those for herbaceous/omnivorous mammals, which a shorter observed increased. The stability martens could be attributed higher level digestibility prey. data also suggests that possess an elastic gut can expand volume, leads consistent despite increase enables them effi...