Question: What pressures made re-eating nutrients more efficient than digesting them the first time?
In lecture 33, we learned that rabbits are hindgut fermenters that consume their cecal contents in a process called cecotrophy, which provides a source of microbial protein and B vitamins. According to ScienceDirect, hamsters, rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and chinchillas also undergo this process. Considering that this occurs in small prey animals, it would follow that it may be due to evolutionary pressure to be constantly on the move and to avoid wasting time and energy on digestion. However, it also seems that re-eating nutrients would be less efficient than fully digesting them the first time. Therefore, my question is what pressures would make cecotrophy, or re-eating these nutrients, more efficient than simply digesting them the first time? Is there another benefit that I am overlooking? Need Assignment Help?