Balancing the scales: Preliminary investigation of total energy expenditure and daily metabolizable energy intake in Matschie's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei).

ABSTRACT: Matschie's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei) is an endangered arboreal marsupial native to Papua New Guinea. Detailed field studies of its behavior and ecology are scarce due largely to its occupation of remote cloud forests and cryptic nature. Although this species has been in human care since the 1950s, much of its biology is still unknown. The current ex situ population is not sustainable due to health and reproductive problems, believed to stem largely from issues with diet and obesity. To better assess potential discrepancies between energy requirements and energy intake, we sought to 1) quantify total energy expenditure (TEE) of two zoo-housed Matschie's tree kangaroos (body mass = 9.0-9.7 kg) on a diet composed largely of leafy browse; 2) quantify food and macronutrient intake,

SUBMITTER: Dunham NT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9236236 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature