TY - JOUR
T1 - Feasible mechanisms for algal digestion in the king angelfish
AU - Martínez-Díaz, S. F.
AU - Pérez-España, H.
PY - 1999/10
Y1 - 1999/10
N2 - To determine the ability of the king angelfish Holacanthus passer to digest algae, three algal species were immersed in acidic conditions similar to that found in the stomach of fish. Only one of them was not susceptible to acidic lysis; two were affected after 40 and 60 min at pH 2-0. King angelfish have an expanded region of the intestine called here the hindgut chamber (HC) containing populations of micro-organisms. Some of these micro-organisms have the capacity to grow in cellulose, agar, and alginic acid; the main components of algal cell walls. Micro-organisms grew in carboxymethylcellulose cultures under aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions. The HC is highly vascularized, which could increase absorptive efficiency of material digested in it.
AB - To determine the ability of the king angelfish Holacanthus passer to digest algae, three algal species were immersed in acidic conditions similar to that found in the stomach of fish. Only one of them was not susceptible to acidic lysis; two were affected after 40 and 60 min at pH 2-0. King angelfish have an expanded region of the intestine called here the hindgut chamber (HC) containing populations of micro-organisms. Some of these micro-organisms have the capacity to grow in cellulose, agar, and alginic acid; the main components of algal cell walls. Micro-organisms grew in carboxymethylcellulose cultures under aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions. The HC is highly vascularized, which could increase absorptive efficiency of material digested in it.
KW - Digestion
KW - Herbivorous
KW - Rocky reef
KW - Tropical fish
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033213274&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/jfbi.1999.1023
DO - 10.1006/jfbi.1999.1023
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0022-1112
VL - 55
SP - 692
EP - 703
JO - Journal of Fish Biology
JF - Journal of Fish Biology
IS - 4
ER -