Free-ranging @entity27414 ( @entity27414 latirostris) consume a variety of sea grasses and algae. This study compared the @entity62 ( @entity62 ) content, proximate nutrients ( @entity1131 [ @entity1131 ], @entity4543 -extracted crude fat [EE], nonfiber @entity1735 [NFC], and ash), and the calculated digestible energy (DE) of sea grasses (Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, and Syringodium filiforme) collected in spring, summer, and winter, and an alga (Chara sp.) with those of romaine lettuce ( @entity12681 . longifolia). Neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), and lignin (L) measured after ash-extraction were also compared. Results of statistical tests (C = 0.01) revealed @entity62 content was higher in aquatic vegetation than in lettuce (P = 0.0001), but NDF and ADF were up to threefold greater, EE (P = 0.00001) and @entity1131 (P = 0.00001) were 2-9 times less, and NFC (P = 0.0001) was 2-6 times lower in sea grass than in lettuce, on a @entity62 basis. Chara was lower in NDF, ADF, L, EE, @entity1131 , and NFC relative to lettuce on a @entity62 basis. Ash content ( @entity62 basis) was higher (P = 0.0001), and DE was 2-6 times lower in aquatic vegetation than in lettuce. Sea grass rhizomes had lower L and higher ash contents ( @entity62 basis) than sea grass leaves. Based on the nutrient analyses, romaine lettuce and sea grasses are not equivalent forages, which suggests that the current diet of captive @entity27414 should be reassessed.

Proximate nutrient analyses of four species of submerged aquatic vegetation consumed by @entity27414 ( @entity27414 latirostris) compared to romaine lettuce ( XXXX var. longifolia).

@entity1131 :: ('MESH:D011488', 'Disease') :: ['CP', 'crude protein'] @entity1735 :: ('CHEBI:16646', 'Chemical') :: ['carbohydrate'] @entity12681 :: ('4236', 'Species') :: ['Lactuca sativa var'] @entity4543 :: ('MESH:D004986', 'Chemical') :: ['ether'] @entity27414 :: ('9778', 'Species') :: ['Trichechus manatus', 'Florida manatees'] @entity62 :: ('MESH:D056784', 'Disease') :: ['DM', 'dry matter']
@entity12681 :: (4236,Species) :: ['Lactuca sativa']
