食蚊鱼摄食特性及其与浮游动物和环境因子的关系

2008年11月—2009年4月,利用分时段采样法对广州暨南大学明湖内食蚊鱼在秋季(11月)、冬季(12—2月)、春季(3—4月)3个季节的摄食特性进行了研究,探讨其与湖内浮游动物群体数量动态、光照和水温的关系。结果表明:食蚊鱼主要以浮游动物为食,对枝角类和桡足类有较强的选择性;明湖日平均水温与浮游动物日平均丰度在3个季节间有显著差异,而食蚊鱼消化道饱满指数的差异不显著;食蚊鱼消化道饱满指数在这3个季节的变化与浮游动物丰度、水温、光照在这3个季节的变化无明显的相关;无论哪个季节,食蚊鱼在白天时段(10:00—18:00)的消化道饱满指数均高于夜间(22:00—6:00),表现出白天高峰型的摄食节律;光照是影响食蚊鱼昼夜摄食节律的主要因素,而水温、浮游动物丰度的昼夜变化与食蚊鱼的昼夜摄食节律没有显著相关。     

长江上游圆口铜鱼的食性分析

2010年春季(4—5月)、夏季(8月)和秋季(10月)在长江上游合江江段采用三层流刺网以3h为间隔昼夜24h连续采集圆口铜鱼样本,对其食物组成、昼夜摄食节律及季节摄食节律等进行分析和研究。结果显示圆口铜鱼的食谱较广,其食物种类包括软体动物、甲壳动物、鱼类、水生昆虫、寡毛类和植物碎片等,其中以淡水壳菜的相对优势度最高,说明圆口铜鱼是以肉食性为主的杂食性鱼类;平均饱满指数和平均充塞度的昼夜变化显示其昼夜摄食节律在春季表现为白昼型,而在夏季和秋季为晨昏型。摄食率随季节变化逐渐降低,春季摄食率最高,达93.33%;秋季摄食率最低,仅为78.21%;充塞度和饱满指数均表现出相似的季节变化,即春季摄食强度明显高于夏季和秋季,而夏秋两季之间差异不显著。     

广州地区人工湖食蚊鱼的种群特征

为调查广州地区人工湖泊食蚊鱼的分布以及探究不同生境要素下食蚊鱼的生长繁殖特点和种群特征,于2012 年5 月-7月份对广州地区6 区19 个人工湖进行实地考察,发现所考察的人工湖均有食蚊鱼的分布。利用捕捞量比较其中4 个人工湖食蚊鱼种群数量,结果显示水体相对富营养化的月湖食蚊鱼数量比其余3 个人工湖高出39.5-43.1 倍。比较4 个人工湖食蚊鱼的形态、摄食、相对怀卵量以及种群结构等指标,结果显示月湖食蚊鱼肥满指数显著低于其余3 个人工湖,而肝体指数和消化道饱满指数却显著高于其余3 个人工湖。同时,月湖雌鱼的相对怀卵量也显著高于其余3 个人工湖,其种群中幼鱼所占比例最大,成鱼中雄鱼所占比例大于雌鱼。反映了水体饵料生物丰富条件下,更有利于食蚊鱼的摄食和繁殖,种群结构低龄化,呈快速增长型。     

摄食水平对不同性别食蚊鱼仔幼鱼生长发育的影响

在实验室27℃水温下,研究了少食、中食和饱食三个摄食水平对0至25日龄雌雄食蚊鱼(Gambusia affinis)的生长发育特征和饵料利用效率的影响。26d饲养实验结束后,对试验鱼摄食和生长指标、臀鳍分化、性成熟及饵料转换效率进行分析。结果显示:到臀鳍开始分化时,饱食组雄鱼的累计摄食总能量和生长速度开始小于雌鱼,且随日龄的增加差异加大;随摄食水平的增加,0日龄仔鱼到臀鳍分化和性成熟的时间缩短。至实验结束,各摄食组的雄鱼均形成发育完善的生殖足,性腺都达到成熟状态;而雌鱼性成熟迟于雄鱼,且其性成熟更易受到摄食水平的影响,饱食组只有约50%的个体达到性成熟,少食组的卵母细胞则均处在小生长期。随着摄食水平的增加,雌雄鱼的体长、体重和干物质特定生长率均呈明显上升趋势,而干物质饵料转化效率则呈明显下降趋势;实验结束时,雌鱼的生长指标和干物质饵料转化率均大于雄鱼。以上结果表明,伴随臀鳍的分化,食蚊鱼在摄食、生长、发育、性成熟和应对食物丰度变化上表现出显著的性别差异。       

入侵早期食蚊鱼仔幼鱼食物组成、摄食策略及营养状况分析

饥饿是影响鱼类仔鱼早期存活的关键因素,入侵鱼类仔鱼耐饥饿能力对其种群增长与扩散意义重大。本文对滇池流域食蚊鱼Gambusia affinis奠基种群仔幼鱼摄食及仔鱼营养状况进行深入分析,初步了解了饥饿因素在食蚊鱼入侵早期种群增长中的影响。研究结果显示,该种群食蚊鱼仔幼鱼主要以枝角类、桡足类为食物,同时能够广泛利用栖息地食物资源,包括种类较为丰富的水生昆虫幼体、弹跳虫等,具有广食性的摄食策略,许多个体食物多样性指数>1。这些特点与其口裂较大、发育较为完善的特点密切相关。尽管如此,仍有高达73.27%的食蚊鱼仔鱼存在饥饿胁迫问题,可能与奠基种群自身生物学特点、仔鱼群体内部竞争、行为特点及环境资源差异化分布格局等因素密切相关。对奠基种群而言,入侵早期仔幼鱼面临陌生的栖息地生境,其摄食与营养状况对种群的定殖有关键影响。     

池养条件下似刺鳊(鱼句)早期发育阶段的摄食与生长特性

对人工培育的似刺鳊(鱼句)(Paracanthobrama guichenoti)仔鱼、稚鱼和幼鱼的生长与摄食节律进行了研究.结果显示,在1~70日龄间,似刺鳊(鱼句)全长平均日增长率为3.55%,体重平均日增长率为11.26%,头长/全长值随着13龄的增长而变小.全长(L,mm)与体重(M,mg)的关系式为M=0.001 2 L2-0.056 4L+0.650 4;体重(M,mg)与日龄(D,d)的关系式为M=0.004 3 e0.0936D;全长(L,mm)和日龄(D,d)的关系式为L=0.015 4 D2-0.012 8 D+8.196 5.在饵料充足的条件下,20日龄晚期仔鱼全天均有很高的摄食发生率,小高峰出现在8:00时;40日龄稚鱼则表现出明显的昼夜摄食节律,属于典型的白天摄食类型,日摄食率2.337 6%.20 13龄仔鱼和40日龄稚鱼饱食后分别经6 h、5 h整个消化道排空.在水温25℃及饥饿空胃状态下,10日龄仔鱼只经3 d即开始出现死亡个体,经5 d全部死亡;20日龄仔鱼经6 d开始出现死亡个体,经9 d全部死亡;40 13龄稚鱼经7 d才开始出现死亡个体,10 d后全部个体均死亡.     

圈养和放归成年雌性普氏野马(Equus przewalskii)夏季昼间的摄食行为

2005至2006年的6~8月间,在新疆普氏野马饲养与繁殖研究中心和卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区,采用全事件取样法和目标动物取样法相结合,研究了圈养和放归成年雌性普氏野马夏季昼间的摄食行为。结果表明,两组个体在摄食行为类型上存在一定的差异,圈养个体普遍具有舔盐和食粪行为,而放归个体不存在此类行为。经独立样本t 检验,得出两组个体的摄食和站立行为的时间分配存在显著差异（P＜0.05）,而站息、卧息、运动和其它行为差异不显著（P＞0.05）,总体上,两组普氏野马的摄食行为所占时间最多。圈养个体昼间具有3个摄食高峰（8:00~10:00、13:00~15:00、19：30~20:00）,与人工投食时间相一致,而放归个体摄食高峰并不明显,仅在13:00~15:00之间出现一个明显的摄食低谷,表现出自然的摄食节律及对放归地夏季自然条件的适应。     

圈养林麝春季活动节律及时间分配

2006 年春季,使用红外夜间观察记录仪,对崇明东平麝场12 只成年林麝(8 雌,4 雄)的行为进行了24 h昼夜连续观察。发现春季林麝的行为有37 种,可归并为休息、摄食、运动、社会、维持和排遗6 大行为类型,据此,建构了春季林麝的行为谱。根据各行为持续时间比率和频次分析表明,林麝的主要行为为休息;雌麝的摄食行为所占的比率高于雄麝,这是由于春季雌麝妊娠的能量需求较高所致。活动节律呈典型的晨昏双峰型,清晨(4:00 ～ 6:00)和傍晚(17:00 ～ 19:00)为活动高峰;夜间活动性显著高于白天。     

日光照周期对大菱鲆幼鱼摄食、消化酶活力与血清激素含量的影响

研究了4种光照周期[24L﹕0D(D1)、16L﹕8D(D2)、8L﹕16D(D3)和0L﹕24D(D4)]对体重(30.5±2.0) g大菱鲆Scophthalmus maximus L.幼鱼20h (8:00am—4:00am)内摄食、消化酶活力、血清激素含量的影响。结果显示: (1)实验鱼的摄食率随光照时间的缩短而降低; D1组实验鱼每隔8h出现摄食高峰, 其他组均在8:00am及4:00pm出现摄食高峰。(2)D1、D2和D3组在12:00am和8:00pm出现肠道蛋白酶及淀粉酶活力峰值, 脂肪酶活力显著高于D4组(P<0.05)。(3)各组8:00am至8:00pm生长激素(GH)含量无显著变化, D1组4:00am时显著高于其他组(P<0.05), D4组0:00am及4:00am显著低于其他组(P<0.05); D1、D2和D3组初次摄食8h内皮质醇(COR)含量无显著变化, 8h后先升高后降低, D4组COR含量先升高后降低, 8:00pm时达到最高; D1和D2组0:00am时去甲肾上腺素(NE)含量显著高于其他组(P<0.05), D4组8:00pm时显著低于其他组(P<0.05); D2组8:00am及12:00am时三碘甲状原氨酸(T3)含量显著高于其他组(P<0.05), D4组8:00pm时显著低于其他组, 0:00am时显著高于其他组(P<0.05), D2和D3组4:00am显著低于D1和D4组(P<0.05), 各组T3最高值均出现在8:00pm。在实验条件下, 光照周期影响了大菱鲆幼鱼摄食、消化酶活力及血清激素含量。在此光照强度下, 大菱鲆养殖中以8—16h光照周期、日投喂2次为宜。     

不同光照条件下叉尾斗鱼仔鱼摄食节律

在自然光照、持续光照和持续黑暗3种光照条件下,研究了孵化后第5、8和12日龄的叉尾斗鱼仔鱼的摄食节律。结果表明:自然光照下,3个日龄的叉尾斗鱼仔鱼在午后12:00—16:00表现出明显的摄食高峰,而持续光照组与持续黑暗组未表现出明显的摄食峰谷。持续光照下,叉尾斗鱼仔鱼的昼夜摄食活动均很活跃,全日各时段平均摄食量显著增加,尤其是夜晚20:00—翌日4:00各时段平均摄食量极显著高于同一时段自然光照组。而在持续黑暗下,与自然光照相比全日各时段平均摄食量明显减少,尤其是白天8:00—16:00各时段的平均摄食量极显著降低。叉尾斗鱼仔鱼属于典型的白天摄食类型,其摄食节律与光照条件密切相关。     

Effects of starvation,re-feeding and timing of food supply on daily rhythm features of gut melatonin in carp (Catla catla)

Influences of starvation, re-feeding and time of food supply on daily rhythm features of melatonin (5-methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine) and its key regulator AANAT (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase) protein in the gut tissues were separately evaluated in carp Catla catla. The first experiment was aimed at demonstration of duration dependent effects of starvation and re-feeding after starvation on the daily profiles and rhythm features of gut melatonin and AANAT. Accordingly, juvenile carp were randomly distributed in three groups, which were (a) provided with balanced diet daily at a fixed time, that is, 10:00 clock hour or zeitgeber time (ZT) 4 (control), or (b) starved (for 2-, 4-, 6- or 8 days), or (c) initially starved for 8 days and then re-fed (for 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 12- or 16 days) daily with the same food and at the time (ZT4) used for control fish. The carp in each group were sampled for collection of gut tissues at six different time points at a regular interval of 4?h in a daily cycle. In another experiment, the influences of timing of food supply were separately examined in four fish groups, which were provided with a fixed amount of food once daily either at 06:00 or 12:00 or 18:00 or 24:00 clock hour corresponding to ZT0 or ZT6 or ZT12 or ZT18, respectively, for 7 days before sampling at 12 different time points with a regular interval of 2?h in a 24-h cycle. The study revealed a gradual increase in the mesor and amplitude values of melatonin and AANAT in gut with the progress of starvation till their values reached maximum at day-6 and remained steady thereafter. In contrast, re-feeding of 8-day starved fish resulted in a sharp decrease in their mesor and amplitude values after 2 days and then followed by a steady-state increase till re-attainment of their values close to control fish at the end of 16 days. The acrophase of these gut variables in each control, starved and re-fed fish was noted mostly at midday or ZT6. However, the results of another experiment demonstrated that a shift of food supply time led to a shift in their acrophase. The amount of residual food in the gut lumen in each, but not starved, fish by showing a significant positive correlation independently with the gut levels of melatonin and AANAT also indicated possible role of food as the synchronizer for their daily rhythms. Collectively, it appears reasonable to argue that daily profiles of gut melatonin and AANAT are strongly influenced by the availability of food, while their daily rhythm features seem to be dependent mostly on the time of food supply in carp.     

竹巴笼矮岩羊昼间行为节律和时间分配

2008年11月中旬至2009年1月中旬和2009年3月至8月,采用瞬时扫描取样法和目标取样法在竹巴笼自然保护区对矮岩羊的昼间行为节律和时间分配进行了研究,结果表明:矮岩羊的昼间行为活动有明显的节律性,活动高峰出现的时间与矮岩羊昼间取食高峰时间基本一致。取食和卧息是最主要的行为方式,分别占总观察频次的53.83%和27.76%,频次较少的是站立和移动,分别占总观察频次的9.93%和8.24%,其它行为所占频次最少,只有0.24%,昼间2个取食高峰(9:00-11:00, 17:00-19:00)和1个卧息高峰(11:00-16:00),呈现出取食-休息-取食的规律。Kruskal-Wallis H 检验表明,季节因素对矮岩羊取食(P <0.05)、卧息(P <0.05)和其它行为(P <0.05)所占时间影响显著,而对移动(P >0.05)和站立(P >0.05)行为影响不显著。各年龄段之间其它行为所占的时间比例差异显著(P<0.05),而取食(P>0.05)、移动(P>0.05)、卧息(P>0.05)和站立(P>0.05)所占时间比例差异不显著;对比分析不同性别矮岩羊昼间行为时间分配差异,雌性的取食、移动和卧息的时间略高于雄性,而站立和其他行为时间低于雄性;Mann-Whitney U 检验对不同性别矮岩羊昼间的各种行为差异进行分析表明:性别因素对矮岩羊昼间时间分配和行为节律产生一定程度的影响,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Evidence for an endogenous circadian rhythm of feeding in the trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract

The possible endogenous circadian rhythm in the feeding activity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was investigated using individual fish previously trained for self‐feeding. Under LD 12:12 conditions, the fish showed a diurnal behaviour, in many cases with a feeding rhythm with two main peaks of food demand at dawn and dusk, with an 8h interval of low feeding activity, and the actograms showed an expected 24 h rhythm. Fish kept under constant conditions (L : L, 15°±0.5°C), showed free‐running feeding activity for about 12 days. Food demands were concentrated at dawn, with a periodogram of 25.3 hour, under continuous environmental conditions. Results showed evidence for the endogenous origin of the circadian rhythm of feeding in this species.     

四川梅花鹿的昼夜活动节律与时间分配

1987 年2 月至2000 年9 月, 用直接观察法在四川省铁布自然保护区中先后对287 只四川梅花鹿的昼夜活动节律和时间分配进行了2 934 h 的观察。四川梅花鹿的昼夜活动具有明显的活动与休息相间出现的节律, 晨昏和午夜是其活动的高峰期, 白昼活动强度较低以休息反刍为主。不同季节其昼夜活动节律有较大的变化。春、夏、秋、冬4 季每天单位时间的平均活动频率分别为: 55.29 ±32.97 %、46.42 ±37.24 %、48.21 ±35.80 %、47.75±32.21 % , 季节差异不明显( F = 0.32 < F_o.o1 ) 。昼夜年平均每天约有52.07 %的时间在活动, 其中白昼活动仅占5.28 % , 而晨昏和夜晚的活动占46.79 %。影响时间分配比例的因素为: 鹿的年龄、性别、繁殖状态、食物资源、天气状况、人为干扰等。     

矮岩羊夏季活动节律、时间分配和集群行为

采用扫描取样法（每隔10 min进行一次扫描纪录,记录时间为5 min）对36只矮岩羊夏季昼间节律与时间分配进行了观察和研究,将矮岩羊行为划分为取食、移动、站立、卧息和其他行为等5类。结果表明,矮岩羊在夏季有3个取食高峰（6：00－9：00、10：00－11：00和16：00－20：00）;1个卧息高峰（11：00－15：00）。在时间分配上,用于取食的时间最多（30.14±3.32）%,其次是卧息（26.44±3.59）%,站立（24.90±4.27）%,移动（15.73±1.26）%,而用于其他行为的时间,仅占（2.82±1.00）%。通过不同个体的比较,发现成年雄性用于取食和站立的时间最多,幼体用于移动和其他行为的时间最多,成年雌性用于卧息的时间最多。在矮岩羊集群方面,其集群类型有：混合群、母仔群、雄性群、雌性群和独羊,在夏季集群平均大小为（7.81±8.42）只,2~8只的羊群,占总群数的54.05%;不同集群类型的大小差异极显著（χ2=13.197,d&#402;=3,P=0.004）,混合群群体最大,而雄性群最小;雌雄比为1∶0.54,雌幼比为1∶0.26,成幼比为1∶0.17。这些都说明矮岩羊这类独特的行为和种群特征是长期适应金沙江干热河谷的结果。     

军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)早期发育阶段的摄食及其影响因子*

研究了军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)仔、稚鱼的日摄食节律和摄食强度,以及饵料密度、温度、盐度对其摄食的影响。结果表明,发育8d仔鱼(摄食轮虫)、23d稚鱼(摄食卤虫无节幼体)和38d稚鱼(摄食鳗鱼粉状饵料)均表现为明显的昼夜摄食节律,摄食主要在白天进行,白天摄食强度占日摄食强度的68%以上;在白天的摄食中,又以早晨6:00-8:00和傍晚16:00-18:00摄食强度最大:夜间摄食较少或基本不摄食,所以军曹鱼早期幼体的摄食习性属白天摄食且偏于晨昏性类型。在不同饵料密度梯度的试验中,发育8d-11d仔鱼和23d-26d稚鱼摄食的适宜饵料密度范围分别为15ind·mL^-1-20ind·mL^-1和7ind·mL^-1-2ind·mL^-1。温度和盐度对发育21d-24d稚鱼日摄食强度的影响均表现为抛物线型的变化曲线,摄食的适宜水温范围为27-31℃,适宜盐度范围为28‰-32‰。结果还表明,幼休摄食强度与饵料密度、水温、盐度的关系均适合于用二次多项式来定量描述。     

A comparative study of feeding methods: Effect on the growth,behaviour and biochemical performance of juvenile Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758)

This study compared the influence of feeding methods on growth parameters of young‐of‐year Beluga sturgeon Huso huso in a 6‐week trial. Fish with an average weight 150.3 ± 0.8 g (±SE) were stocked into nine circular concrete tanks (30 fish per tank) in an open circular system with water temperature of 18.9°C. All fish were fed by three different feeding methods: (a) hand‐fed (HF), (b) continuously available (automated feeder; AF), (c) half of daily feed provided by hand, and another half by automated feeder (combined feeding). For the hand‐feeding method, fish were fed at 09:00, 14:00, 19:00, and 24:00. The entire automatic feeding groups were fed with the same amount of feed. The mean final body weight was the highest in fish fed by AF compared to fish fed by HF. Body weight increase, condition factor, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio did not differ among the feeding groups. Fish fed by AF revealed higher swimming activity than the HF group. No significant changes were found in hematocrit, glucose and total protein concentrations among treatments. The results showed less dependence of growth and physiology of Beluga sturgeon on feeding method, but automated‐feeding was shown to be suitable for sturgeon rearing because of further low labour costs in rearing systems.     

Oviposition habitat selection for a predator refuge and food source in a mosquito

Abstract.  1. The influence of filamentous algae on oviposition habitat selection by the mosquito Anopheles pseudopunctipennis and the consequences of oviposition decisions on the diet, development, body size, and survival of offspring were examined.
2. A natural population of An. pseudopunctipennis in Chiapas, Mexico, oviposited almost exclusively in containers with filamentous algae. Algae represented 47% of the gut contents of mosquito larvae sampled from the natural population. Mosquito larvae fed on an exclusive diet of algae developed as quickly and achieved the same adult body size (wing length) as their conspecifics fed on a standard laboratory diet.
3. Multiple regression of survival of mosquito larvae on percentage surface area cover of algae (0–99%) and the density of predatory fish (zero to four fish per container) was best described by a second-order polynomial model. Increasing fish densities resulted in a reduction in mosquito survival in all algal treatments. The highest incidence of survival was observed at intermediate (66%) algal cover in all treatments.
4. The presence of fish significantly extended larval development times whereas algal cover had no significant effect. The presence of fish resulted in emergence of smaller adults due to reduced feeding opportunities and predator avoidance behaviour. Algal cover also affected mosquito wing length but differently at each fish density.
5. Oviposition habitat selection improves survival in the presence of predators and feeding opportunities for An. pseudopunctipennis larvae.     

Effect of restricted feeding schedule on seasonal shifting of daily demand-feeding pattern and food anticipatory activity in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The effect of restricted feeding schedule was investigated on the seasonal shifting of daily demand-feeding pattern and food anticipatory activity in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) held under natural environmental conditions in an outdoor laboratory. To that end, demand-feeding behavior was continuously monitored for approximately one year in four groups of 15 fish each exposed to natural fluctuations of water temperature (from 13.2 degrees C to 27.4 degrees C) and photophase (from 9.5 h to 14.5 h of light). When the animals were subjected to a time-restricted feeding schedule, the demand-feeding rhythm rapidly synchronized to the three periods of food availability: the first meal (FM) from 08:00 to 09:00 h, the second meal (SM) from 16:00 to 17:00 h, and the third meal (TM) from 00:00 to 01:00 h. The occurrence of demand-feeding activity into the three periods of food availability displayed a double seasonal shift: fish that self-fed mostly during the daytime periods of feeding availability (FM and SM) in summer and autumn changed to nocturnal feeding (TM) from December to April, returning to diurnal preferences in April. Food-demands appeared to be predominantly associated with feed availability, reaching its maximum levels during the hours of reward. In addition, feeding anticipatory activity (FAA) was observed. A relationship was detected between the duration of FAA and feeding-time, with shortest FAA (30-60 min) when mealtime occurred just after sunrise (FM) or sunset (TM). These findings demonstrate the ability of sea bass to self-feed under time-restricted schedules, and show a seasonal-phase inversion in demand-feeding activity in spite of the restrictions in their feeding availability. Sea bass can use external signals as reference to anticipate the time of feed availability. This information may be useful for designing new feeding strategies for European sea bass fish farming.     

Daily profiles of serum and gastrointestinal melatonin in response to daytime or night-time supply of tryptophan-rich diet in carp (Catla catla)

Influences of daytime (~10:00 h) or night-time (~22:00 h) supply of L-tryptophan (Trp)-rich diet on daily rhythm features of melatonin and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) protein (key regulator of melatonin biosynthesis) in gastrointestinal (gut) tissue extracts, and melatonin in serum were studied in carp (Catla catla). Analysis of obtained data revealed that the mesor and amplitude values of both melatonin and AANAT in gut tissue-extracts were higher in daytime-fed fish than those supplied with food at night, and their acrophase varied from ~2 h in the daytime-fed carp to ~10 h in night-time-fed fish. Notably, initiation of stimulatory response of melatonin and AANAT in gut to Trp-rich diet varied from ~2 h (following food supply in day) to ~6 h (after food supply during night). However, in either case, their elevated levels were maintained for ~12 h. Trp-rich diet also caused increase in serum melatonin levels, and the duration of such response varied with the time of food supply. Collectively, present study not only demonstrates the role of Trp-rich diet as a potential inducer of gut melatoninergic system and modulator of daily serum melatonin profiles, but underlines the importance of the time of food supply as a determining factor of its influence as well.