Lack of potassium-anion interaction in diet selection by captive meadow voles.
An experiment was conducted to test whether selective avoidance of high-potassium diets by captive meadow voles (Rodentia: Microtus pennsylvanicus) depends on the anions with which potassium is associated. Voles were presented simultaneously with a) low- and high-potassium diets formulated with either potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, or a mixture of potassium chloride and potassium citrate; or b) paired combinations of high-potassium diets containing different anions. In the first part of the experiment, voles preferentially selected the low-potassium diets, with the degree of selectivity virtually completely independent of the associated anion. These results confirm previous suggestions that potassium avoidance may be a component in diet selection by herbivores, especially during spring and summer. There is only weak indication that anion content affects selection of diets with fixed potassium content.
Anderson
M A
MA
Department of Biology, University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812.
Christian
D P
DP
D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019343:Citric Acid; D005518:Food Preferences; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013431:Sulfates / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002951:Citrates; D013431:Sulfates; C031512:potassium sulfate; D019343:Citric Acid; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D011188:Potassium