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In spite of their ecological importance in tidal pools, studies on digestive flexibility in non-symbiotic anemones (i.e., without symbiosis throughout their life) upon changes in key environmental factors are lacking. This study constitutes the first work to investigate the response of digestive enzymes in relation to high environmental salinity and temperature in a non-symbiotic sea anemone. We determined the occurrence and biochemical characteristics of maltase activity and compared maltase and proteolytic activities in mesenterial filaments in Bunodosoma zamponii from the intertidal area of Punta Cantera, Mar del Plata, Argentina (38°05′S, 57°32′W) acclimated to 35 and 40 psu and after an acute enhancement (15 min) of temperature from 20° to 30°C. Maltase activity was higher in 40 psu and upon the increase in temperature (about 80 and 99%, respectively). Proteolytic activity was not affected in any case. The results suggest the occurrence of specific digestive adjustments in relation to high salinity and temperature. The fact that differential modulation of maltase activity could be associated with a higher digestive capacity for glycogenic substrates is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study which examines the digestive flexibility of female rodent Ctenomys talarum that lives in their natural habitat. It states that the study observed the properties of the gastrointestinal tract and organs of the rodent together. It also observed the state of several digestive enzymes which include sucrase, maltase, and N-aminopeptidase. It says that in autumn, the large intestine of nonreproductive female rodents are longer. It mentions that female rodent caught in autumn showed higher enzymes than those caught in winter. It adds that the results that showed morphological and biochemical characteristics demonstrate digestive flexibility to adjusts in their life style.

Abstract: Ctenomys talarum is a subterranean herbivorous rodent which due to its particular life style is frequently exposed to variations in surface environmental conditions (i.e. food quality and availability, temperature). Thus, unlike other subterranean rodents, C. talarum has to buffer both the surface and burrow challenging environmental conditions. We studied the occurrence of digestive strategies at different levels of C. talarum living in their natural habitat. We determined the dimensions of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and organs along as the activity of key digestive enzymes (disaccharidase, N-aminopeptidase) in different parts of the gut in individuals seasonally caught. The results show that C. talarum exhibits characteristics in the gut at the biochemical level (high disaccharidase activities in small intestine, high N-aminopeptidase activity in the caecum and large intestine, and a seasonal differential modulation of N-aminopeptidase activity in small and large intestines), which could represent adaptive strategies to face seasonal variations in key environmental factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]