Seasonal patterns of nitrogen utilization by pocket gophers, Thomomys bottae.
Adult pocket gophers, fed diets of natural vegetation in the laboratory during summer and winter, remained in positive N balance in all feeding trials. Nitrogen budgets for free-ranging pocket gophers were calculated and revealed that total N influx exceeded 2400 mg N . kg-1 day-1 in summer and 2300 mg N . kg-1 day-1 in winter. Apparent N assimilation was 50 and 53% in summer and winter, respectively, and truly digestible N requirements were congruent to 680 mg N . kg-1 day-1. These budgets indicate that, in spite of seasonally-changing quality of available forage, pocket gophers remain in positive N balance, due largely to shifts in forage preference with season.
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons
D009584:Nitrogen