TABLE 1.
The mean, range, and SEM for all composite meal variables expressed by euhydrated animals (EU). The values of all variables are presented for the entire 24h period, as well as their distribution within the light and dark periods. See text for further details.
| 24 h | Light | Dark | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Range | Range | |||||||
| Measure | Mean | Min-Max | SE | Mean | Min-Max | SE | Mean | Min-Max | SE |
| Number of composite meals | 9.0 | 6.6–11.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.8–2.8 | 0.2 | 7.3 | 5.0–9.6 | 0.5 |
| Inter-meal Interval (min) | 87.7 | 62.6–111.1 | 5.7 | 139.3 | 61.1–286.7 | 23.3 | 77.7 | 61.5–105.2 | 5.5 |
| Composite meal duration (min) | 24.6 | 16.0–33.7 | 1.6 | 19.9 | 12.5–32.9 | 2.4 | 25.6 | 16.4–38.3 | 2.0 |
| Within-meal feeding (min) | 18.1 | 10.3–25.5 | 1.6 | 16.3 | 9.7–28.3 | 2.1 | 18.4 | 10.1–26.2 | 1.6 |
| Within-meal drinking (min) | 3.7 | 2.0–6.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 0.8–3.3 | 0.3 | 4.1 | 2.0–7.4 | 0.6 |
| Food:Liquid ratio (min) | 5.5 | 2.7–9.8 | 0.8 | 9 | 3.6–19.6 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 2.6–9.6 | 0.8 |
| Within-meal size | |||||||||
| Within-meal feeding (g) | 2.81 | 1.96–3.92 | 0.2 | 2.43 | 1.26–4.61 | 0.3 | 2.91 | 1.98–4.32 | 0.2 |
| Within-meal drinking (mL) | 3.13 | 2.5–5.13 | 0.2 | 2.28 | 0.80–3.45 | 0.3 | 3.29 | 2.55–5.64 | 0.2 |
| Food:Liquid ratio (g/mL) | 1.08 | 0.9–1.31 | 0.0 | 1.45 | 0.86–2.75 | 0.2 | 1.03 | 0.78–1.24 | 0.0 |
| Percentage of meals in dark phase | 83 | 76–91 | 2 | ||||||
| Total 24h food intake (g) | 24.00 | 21.53–25.98 | 0.5 | ||||||
| Total 24h liquid intake (mL) | 37.60 | 30.87–47.15 | 1.6 | ||||||
| Total 24h food:liquid ratio (g/mL) | 0.65 | 0.53–0.75 | 0.0 | ||||||