Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
8-2025
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Ryan B. Stephens
Committee Members
Gerardo Arceo-Gomez, Richard T. Carter, Matthew E. Smith
Abstract
Dispersal is crucial in maintaining healthy ecosystems, but little is known about mechanisms influencing fungal spore dispersal by animals. We aimed to develop a more mechanistic understanding of the influence of fungal spore traits and small mammal traits on gut retention time. We fed three species of small mammals (shrew, mouse, vole), which differ in gut morphologies, digestive strategies, and activity a combination of markers including: liquid digesta phase (CrEDTA), small particle (fungal spores with diverse morphologies), and large particles (glitter and beads, representing plant cells and seeds, respectively). We found that hindgut fermenters selectively retained the liquid markers, spores generally tracked the large particle marker (glitter), and fecal output was the best predictor of retention times, with spore size having a weak negative effect. Our study demonstrates that gut retention time is mainly influenced by small mammal species and their activity, and not the morphology of ingested spores.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Hale, Noah G., "Gut Passage Time in Small Mammals: Influences of Small Mammal Traits, Digesta Phase, and Particle Morphology" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4565. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4565
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
