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Effects of diet oncaptive black-footedferret (Mustelanigripes) foodpreference Astrid VargasStanley H. Anderson1996 год

Effects of diet on captive black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) food preference
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Страница публикацииПубликация в OpenAlex
Аннотация: Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are both habitat and prey specialists that depend on prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) for food and utilize prairie dog burrows for refuge. In this study we investigated the effects of captive diet during early development on adult black-footed ferret food preferences. To test the hypothesis that early diet affects the food preferences of adult black-footed ferrets, we exposed 22 kits (divided into three experimental groups) to different quantities of prairie dog in the diet: no prairie dog, prairie dog three times per week, and prairie dog daily during the assumed sensitive period for olfactory imprinting, i.e., between 60–90 postnatal days. At age 5 months, kits were individually tested in a food choice cafeteria trial. Results indicated that higher amounts of prairie dog in the ferrets' early diet led to a higher preference for this food item when ferrets reached adulthood. These results have important implications for black-footed ferret recovery and have been considered in the reintroduction protocol. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Год издания: 1996
Авторы: Astrid Vargas, Stanley H. Anderson
Издательство: Wiley
Источник: Zoo Biology
Ключевые слова: Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health, Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies