Yaban Tavşanı ve Sumaymununda Çekal Fermantasyon

Abstract

Wildlife organisms have some necessary physiological properties and ecological niches in order to survive in nature. These physiological
characteristics provide the appearance of available niches of these organisms. Ecological niches of each species which determines the way of
organism’s life and provides the presence of its life in the ecosystem are the basic responsibilities. Hare that are exposed to strong predation pressure
has a specialized digestive system. Re-ingestion of products of high nutritional value that occurs as a result of fermentation in advanced caecum
(coprophagy = caecotrophy) has determined the current ecological niches of hare. Thanks to this feature, the hare displays broad ecological and
geographical spread. Another caecal fermenter that has almost the same digestive system with the hare is the coypu. Coypu is the biggest rodent
which makes coprophagy among the herbivors in Turkey. In addition, coypu is a semi-aquatic animal and its natural spread is limited.