Skip to main content

Table 2 Seasonal variations in digestive tract morphology in Chinese Bulbuls

From: Seasonal variation in body mass and energy budget in Chinese bulbuls (pycnonotus sinensis)

Category

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

p value

Sample size (n)

23

23

24

18

 

Digestive tract length (mm)

     

Gizzard

14.6 ± 0.5b

13.6 ± 0.5b

13.7 ± 0.5b

14.8 ± 0.6a

>0.05

Small intestines

120.6 ± 2.0b

115.0 ± 2.0a

115.9 ± 2.0a

128.6 ± 2.3c

<0.001

Rectum

12.1 ± 0.5

12.3 ± 0.5

12.9 ± 0.5

13.2 ± 0.5

>0.05

Total digestive tract

147.4 ± 2.0b

140.9 ± 2.0a

142.4 ± 2.0ab

156.7 ± 2.3c

<0.001

Digestive tract wet mass (mg)

     

Gizzard

626.1 ± 17.3c

547.5 ± 17.2b

488.4 ± 17.3a

545.9 ± 19.9b

<0.001

Small intestine

1681.1 ± 69.1a

1605.3 ± 68.5a

1643.6 ± 68.9a

2115.2 ± 79.9b

<0.001

Rectum

145.7 ± 10.0a

141.8 ± 9.9a

176.7 ± 10.0b

138.6 ± 11.5a

<0.05

Total digestive tract

2452.9 ± 77.8a

2294.6 ± 77.1a

2308.8 ± 77.5a

2799.7 ± 89.6b

<0.001

Digestive tract dry mass (mg)

     

Gizzard

183.8 ± 6.1b

156.3 ± 6.1a

153.7 ± 6.1a

166.3 ± 7.1b

<0.01

Small intestines

303.3 ± 13.1a

287.6 ± 12.9a

352.5 ± 13.0b

413.4 ± 15.0c

<0.001

Rectum

24.2 ± 1.2b

20.3 ± 1.2a

25.5 ± 1.2b

26.0 ± 1.4b

<0.01

Total digestive tract

511.4 ± 15.8b

464.2 ± 15.6a

531.8 ± 15.7b

605.7 ± 15.0c

<0.001

  1. Data are presented as mean ± SE, bold indicated statistical differences. The different superscripts in the same row indicate significant differences.