Table III summarizes the digestibility coefficients of the rations for both groups of turtles. The dry matter digestibilities of the whole diets appear unaffected by the protein level of the diet or the age of the turtles. Protein digestibility, however, appears to improve with Increasing protein level in the diet and appears dependent upon the age of the turtle. Improved protein digestibility with increasing protein level may be attributable to the use of higher quality protein sources in high protein diets. Initial weights corrected for mortality.
Weight gain is expressed as percent of initial weight.
Cellulose digestion and volatile fatty acid production in the green turtles, Chelonia mydas. Garr, A.F., 1952. Handbook of Turtles, the Turtles of the United States, Canada and Baja California. Edwards Jr, H.M. and Glues, M.B., 1959. A chromic oxide balance method for determining phosphate availability.