| Institution: | 1. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1550 Alder Street, Ephrata, WA 98823, USA;2. Ducks Unlimited Inc., Pacific Northwest Office, 1101 SE Tech Center Drive, Suite 115, Vancouver, WA 98683, USA |
| Abstract: | Abstract: Understanding the true metabolizable energy (TME) value of food is important for constructing bioenergetic models. We estimated gross energy, nutrient composition, and TME values for the seeds of 3 native and 1 invasive exotic wetland plant that occur in the diet of waterfowl. True metabolizable energy values were 0.50 ± 0.080 kcal/g for spike rush (Eleocharis palustris), 0.65 ± 0.080 kcal/g for alkali bulrush (Schoenoplectus maritimus), 1.31 ± 0.090 kcal/g for perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), and 2.52 ± 0.080 kcal/g for lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album). The TME value for 3 of 4 species, including the invasive species, was low relative to the TME value of other seeds consumed by waterfowl. |
