Gastrointestinal evacuation time, but not nutrient digestibility, of greenlip abalone, Haliotis laevigata Donovan, is affected by water temperature and age

The effects of water temperature (14, 18, 22 and 26°C) and age (2-y-old, 6.7g; 3-y-old, 25.7g) on the gastrointestinal evacuation (GIE) time and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients (ADC) for greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata). GIE time of greenlip abalone was evaluated using a marker diet containing chromic oxide and the total faecal collection technique. Additionally, GIE values were compared from samples collected from abalone that were sampled once only or repeatedly to compare the rigour of each method. GIE time was also assessed using radiography. GIE times were significantly affected by water temperature (P