Gross assimilation efficiency and food passage time in the African elephant

Rees, PA

Abstract

The amount of food consumed and dung voided by two captive African elephants was measured over a period of 7 days. The mean gross assimilation efficiency of the two elephants was calculated to be 22.4%. The food passage time was between 21.4 and 46 h for one elephant. Previous estimates of food consumption by wild elephants, based on an earlier, higher estimate of assimilation efficiency, are considered to be too high and have been recalculated.

Citation

Rees, P. (1982). Gross assimilation efficiency and food passage time in the African elephant. African journal of ecology, 20(3), 193-198. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1982.tb00290.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1982
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2011
• Journal: African Journal of Ecology
• Print ISSN: 0141-6707
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 193-198
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1982.tb00290.x
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1982.tb00290.x