Digestive constraints and nutrient hydrolysis in nestlings of two flamingospecies

In vertebrates, enzymatic activity levels in the small intestine are correl ated with dietary composition. We examined enzymatic activity levels in juv enile specimens of two flamingo species, Phoenicoparrus andinus and Phoenic oparrus jamesi. Both species feed their chicks with esophageal secretions. Based on the chemical composition of these secretions in flamingoes, we pre dicted low activity levels of disaccharidases and higher activities of amin opeptidase-N and esterase. As predicted, sucrase was absent in P. andinus, and its activity was low in P. jamesi. Esterase and aminopeptidase-N activi ties were relatively high. Low maltase activity suggested the presence of c arbohydrates in esophageal secretions. Digestive features can have conseque nces on the growth and survival of chicks. Hence the data presented here ma y be relevant to the maintenance and reproduction of wild and captive endan gered flamingoes.