Rapid Dietary Shift in Resulted in Localized Changes in Gut Function.

AbstractNatural dietary shifts offer the opportunity to address the nutritional physiological characters required to thrive on a particular diet. Here, we studied the nutritional physiology of , with populations on Pod Mrčaru, Croatia, that have become omnivorous and morphologically distinct (including the development of valves in the hindgut) from their insectivorous source population on Pod Kopište. We compared gut structure and function between the two island populations of this lizard species and contrasted them with an insectivorous mainland out-group population in Zagreb.

The effects of protein and fiber content on gut structure and function in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Chemical reactor theory (CRT) suggests that the digestive tract functions as a chemical reactor for processing food. Presumably, gut structure and function should match diet to ensure adequate nutrient and energy uptake to maintain performance. Within CRT, dietary biochemical composition is the most important factor affecting gut structure and function in vertebrates.