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Surface enlargement in the rumen of free-ranging muskoxen ( |
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| Authors: | Marcus Clauss Jan Adamczewski Reinhold R. Hofmann |
| Affiliation: | (1) Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;(2) Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Canada;(3) Trompeterhaus (formerly Leibniz-Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Biology IZW Berlin), Baruth, Brandenburg, Germany |
| Abstract: | The intraruminal papillation pattern indicates the degree of rumen contents stratification and is related to the feeding niche of a ruminant. Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) display a variety of morphophysiological adaptations typical for grazers. We investigated the intraruminal papillation of 22 free-ranging muskoxen from five different months by comparing the surface enlargement factor both between seasons and between individual rumen regions. The seasonal pattern of rumen papillation indicated a distinct seasonality in food quality. The intraruminal papillation indicated a moderate degree of rumen contents stratification typical for intermediate feeders. The nutritional ecology of muskoxen is characterised by specific morphophysiological adaptations to a grass-dominated diet that nevertheless allow extensive seasonal use of browse forage. |
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