1. Feeding and Digestion

3. Filter Feeders
Whales and Whale sharks as well as sponges feed by filtration of tiny organism from the water column

4. Batch Processor

9. Digestion in the Florida Manatee

10. Manatee Facts Trichechus manatus
Average length 3 meters, weight 1,200 lbs
Life span 40 years
Related to elephant
Only herbivorous marine mammal

11. Digestion in Manatees No front teeth, rigid pads form “lips”
Molars 6-8 in each of 4 rows
Teeth constantly replaced
Large salivary glands
Digestive tract about 120 feet in length

13. The Digestive Tract
Like most herbivores the digestive tract is much longer than carnivores
Unique features include a cardiac caeca which secretes HCl
Mid gut caeca incubate fermenting microorganisms
A very long large intestine is a fermenting chamber

15. Cellulose Digestion Cellulose Beta Glucans Cellobiose Glucose
Acetic Acid Proprionic Acid Butyric Acid

16. Fermentation Both bacteria and protozoa are active in fermentation
The gut passage time of nearly 1 week allows for slow processing
Cellulose is the main component of the diet
Mixed acid fermentation produces methane, proprionic, butyric and acetic acid

17. In ruminants, fermentation takes place in several stomachs
In ruminants, fermentation takes place in several stomachs. Small organic acids are also produced. Methane is a product in all fermenters.