Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Patrick L. Taggart, Pip Taylor, Kandarp K. Patel, Daniel W. A. Noble
Summary: Baiting is a powerful tool used to manipulate wildlife populations and induce ecosystem change. A systematic review revealed that baiting occurred in 28 countries, with the majority of applications in Australia or New Zealand. The use of sodium monofluoroacetate accounted for a significant proportion of bait substances. Baiting was primarily used for lethal control, targeting a wide range of species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin K. Sullender, Calum X. Cunningham, Jessica D. Lundquist, Laura R. Prugh
Summary: Snowpack dynamics have a significant impact on wildlife movement ecology and predator-prey interactions. Specific properties of the snow, such as density and depth, influence how animals move through the snow and their vulnerability to predation. Researchers quantified the relationship between snow variables and sink depths of predators and prey in Alaska and Washington, USA. They found that near-surface snow density was the strongest predictor of sink depth across species. These findings can help predict the effects of future changes in snow density on predator-prey relationships.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Matyas Cserhati
Summary: Based on whole genome analysis, the red panda is likely part of the mustelid clade rather than ursid or mephitid. Molecular-based classification is more reliable than morphological classification according to this study, although mitochondrial analysis suggests a different conclusion.
Review
Ecology
Celia V. Holland
Summary: Toxocara species are widespread nematode parasites that primarily infect companion, domestic, and wild hosts. The significance of wild carnivores as definitive hosts for Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati has received less attention compared to domestic dogs and cats. Among the documented hosts, the red fox and the Eurasian lynx have been the most studied species. Additionally, some non-canid and non-felid hosts also serve as definitive hosts for Toxocara species. Assessing the relative importance of wild hosts in environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs remains a major challenge.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Meredith A. Smola, Patricia M. Oba, Pamela L. Utterback, Lorena Sanchez-Sanchez, Carl M. Parsons, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: This study measured the amino acid composition, amino acid digestibility, and protein quality of mealworm-based ingredients. The results showed that these ingredients have high amino acid digestibilities and protein quality, making them valuable protein sources for pet foods. Further research is needed to confirm their palatability and digestibility in dogs and cats.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kathryn M. van Boom, Tertius A. Kohn, Adrian S. W. Tordiffe
Summary: This study investigated the effects of glycine supplementation in captive cheetahs. The results showed slight body and blood changes, indicating the potential impact of glycine on these parameters in captive cheetahs. This cross-over design approach should be utilized in future dietary studies.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Leah J. Roberts, Patricia M. Oba, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: Vegan, mildly cooked, and human-grade dog foods are increasing in popularity, but there is a lack of research on their digestibility and effects on dogs. This study aimed to determine the digestibility of human-grade vegan dog foods and their impact on blood metabolites and fecal microbiota. The results showed that the vegan diets were highly digestible and had positive effects on blood lipids and fecal metabolites.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Hassan Sarfraz, Aqsa Shahid, Samra Asghar, Bilal Aslam, Usman Ali Ashfaq, Hammad Raza, Miguel A. Prieto, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Francisco J. Barba, Muhammad Shahid Riaz Rajoka, Mohsin Khurshid, Abdulqadir J. Nashwan
Summary: In recent years, the relationship between gut microbiota, metabolic disorders, and diet has been discovered. Individuals have different responses to diet due to variations in their microbiome and host characteristics. Diet can shape the microbiome and impact human physiology. These findings are important for personalized nutrition strategies and improving human health.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sungho Do, Elizabeth A. Koutsos, Pamela L. Utterback, Carl M. Parsons, Maria R. C. de Godoy, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: The form and concentration of dietary calcium did not impact the nutrient composition, AA digestibility, and DIAAS-like values of BSFL. Although the digestibility of AA did not differ, diets containing CaCO3 generally had higher DIAAS-like reference values compared to those containing CaCl2 alone. Aromatic and sulfur amino acids were often limiting amino acids in the diets.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Augusto Cesar Costa-Santos, Ana Paula Rebellato, Eduardo Adilson Orlando, Juliana Azevedo Lima Pallone
Summary: This study estimated the bioaccessibility of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in organic milk and conventional milk using an in vitro protocol. The results showed that organic milk and conventional milk had similar protein content, but organic milk had lower lactose and lipid content. Among different brands and batches, organic milk had higher sodium levels and lower potassium and phosphorus levels, while calcium levels were higher and there were no differences in magnesium levels. Organic milk showed the highest bioaccessible calcium values and phosphorus had the highest bioaccessibility in conventional milk.
Review
Sport Sciences
Patrick Wilson
Summary: Vigorous or prolonged exercise can challenge the functioning of the gastrointestinal system and lead to digestive symptoms. Dietary supplements, such as probiotics, glutamine, and bovine colostrum, have shown potential in reducing exercise-associated gastrointestinal damage and symptoms. However, the clinical implications of these findings are uncertain. Among these supplements, probiotics have been modestly effective in reducing exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Additionally, certain sports supplements, such as carbohydrates, caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate, can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, it is important to use appropriate dosages and avoid exacerbating factors when consuming these supplements.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Shiyou Pan, Hossain M. Zabed, Zhenchong Li, Xianghui Qi, Yutuo Wei
Summary: This study establishes a strategy of balancing sugar-fiber-nitrogen nutrients for improved methane production by co-digesting banana pseudostem, sugarcane baggage, and chicken manure. The co-digestion process remains stable and provides a deeper understanding of nutrient balance.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Patricia M. Oba, Pamela L. Utterback, Matt Longshaw, Carl M. Parsons, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: The aim of this experiment was to compare the amino acid digestibilities and protein quality of a novel microbial protein with other animal, plant, and insect-based ingredients. The results showed that the microbial protein had high amino acid digestibilities and could serve as a high-quality protein source for pet foods.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Michelle E. G. Weijzen, Rob J. J. van Gassel, Imre W. K. Kouw, Jorn Trommelen, Stefan H. M. Gorissen, Janneau van Kranenburg, Joy P. B. Goessens, Marcel C. G. van de Poll, Lex B. Verdijk, Luc J. C. van Loon
Summary: This study compared protein digestion, amino acid absorption, and muscle protein synthesis response after ingesting intact milk protein or an equivalent amount of free amino acids. The results showed that ingestion of free amino acids led to a faster absorption of amino acids and greater availability in the bloodstream. In conditions where protein digestion and amino acid absorption are compromised, ingestion of free amino acids may be preferred.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sungho Do, Thunyaporn Phungviwatnikul, Maria R. C. de Godoy, Kelly S. Swanson
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of human-grade pet foods on dogs, showing that these foods demonstrated good digestibility, reduced fecal output significantly, and altered the fecal microbiota of dogs. Serum metabolites and hematology were not greatly affected by the tested human-grade pet foods.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Daryl Codron, C. Britt Bousman, Falko Buschke, Marcus Clauss, Chanel Lewis, Rune van der Merwe, Aileen van der Mescht, James S. Brink
Summary: The coexistence of multiple species competing for a finite set of resources is a debated topic in community ecology. This study explores the emergence of a clumped niche structure among herbivores in South Africa over evolutionary time. The results show that species tend to cluster on parts of the niche axis where resource availability is highest, but competition leads to differentiation, explaining the persistence of various herbivore species in predominantly treeless landscapes.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xiaoyu Zhang, Yang Li, Melissa Terranova, Sylvia Ortmann, Michael Kreuzer, Juergen Hummel, Marcus Clauss
Summary: This study investigated the effect of individual chewing behavior on average retention time of fluids and particles in the gastrointestinal tract. The results showed that chewing intensity had a negative impact on the retention time of fluids and particles in the stomach, while chewing frequency was significantly related to the retention time of large particles outside the stomach.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Christian Schiffmann, Linda Hellriegel, Marcus Clauss, Brother Stefan, Kevin Knibbs, Christian Wenker, Therese Hard, Cordula Galeffi
Summary: Despite increased research, many characteristics of resting behavior in elephants remain unknown. This study observed nighttime lying behavior in 10 zoo elephants and found that elephants on soft substrates had longer lying bouts and increased total lying durations per night. The frequency of side changes between lying bouts was also higher on soft substrates, indicating equal laterality in resting behavior. The study suggests monitoring these characteristics in elephants to improve their well-being.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xiaoyu Zhang, Yang Li, Melissa Terranova, Sylvia Ortmann, Saskia Kehraus, Christian Gerspach, Michael Kreuzer, Juergen Hummel, Marcus Clauss
Summary: Contrary to some in vitro studies, there was little indication of a reciprocal effect of methane and microbial biomass production in cows fed a forage-only diet.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lara Scherer, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Marcus Clauss, Katrin Gries, David Hagan, Arne Lawrenz, Dennis W. H. Mueller, Marco Roller, Christian Schiffmann, Ann-Kathrin Oerke
Summary: This article discusses the issue of zoo elephant husbandry and reviews historical data and recent developments. It found that adult survivorship has improved in both African and Asian elephants, with African elephants having a higher survivorship rate. However, there has been no significant change in juvenile survivorship since 1960, with African elephants having a higher rate, possibly due to the effect of herpes virus.
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Annika Avedik, Maria J. Duque-Correa, Marcus Clauss
Summary: The evolution of mammals is characterized by the development of effective food processing mechanisms, such as durable dentition and complex occlusal surfaces. While much attention has been given to factors facilitating transverse chewing movements, the constraining effect of anterior dentition has received less comprehensive attention. This study highlights the constraint of anterior dentition on transverse chewing motions and proposes various morphological solutions to overcome this constraint. The diversity of anterior dentition and the trend towards its reduction in mammalian herbivores indicate the relevance of this constraint in mammalian evolution.
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Friederike Pfau, Marcus Clauss, Juergen Hummel
Summary: This article examines the digestive physiology differences in ruminant species. It finds that cattle and sheep have significant differences in ruminal fermentation, with cattle having higher microbial production but also experiencing higher losses of faecal microbial nitrogen, leading to lower apparent digestibility of crude protein. These differences may be related to saliva production and body mass.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Anita Wittwer, Marco Roller, Dennis W. H. Mueller, Mads F. Bertelsen, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Beatrice Steck, Rebecca Biddle, Lars Versteege, Marcus Clauss
Summary: Zoo animal husbandry is a skill that needs constant development to improve animal survivorship. Species at higher risk of extinction in the wild may face greater difficulties in zoo conditions. This study found that the survival rates of black, greater one-horned, and white rhinos in zoos were consistent with their extinction risk status. The survivorship of black and white rhinos has significantly improved over time, while the greater one-horned rhino's survivorship stagnated.
Article
Ecology
Annelies De Cuyper, Diederik Strubbe, Marcus Clauss, Luc Lens, Andreas Zedrosser, Sam Steyaert, Leen Verbist, Geert P. J. Janssens
Summary: The nutrient composition in the diet of brown bears has metabolic significance and is related to their foraging behavior. The study found that brown bears have a diet dominated by vertebrates and ants in spring and early summer, and berries in fall, resulting in protein-rich and carbohydrate-rich diets, respectively. Although there were differences in dietary ingredient proportions between reproductive classes, the nutrient concentrations in the diet were similar, indicating that bears are able to maintain a consistent nutrient profile by selecting different ingredients. The study also showed that the bears' diets provided sufficient glucogenic substrate for efficient metabolism throughout the year, suggesting either a driving force of metabolic efficiency in diet selection or abundant natural resources available to the bears.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andrew J. Abraham, Ethan S. Duvall, Elizabeth Le Roux, Andre Ganswindt, Marcus Clauss, Christopher E. Doughty, Andrea B. Webster
Summary: In nutrient-poor wildlife reserves, providing supplemental mineral resources for wildlife is common practice. However, the impacts of anthropogenic mineral supplementation on large herbivore nutrition, behavior, and ecosystem processes have not been well studied. This study examined the contribution of anthropogenic mineral lick provision to wildlife nutrient intake in the southern Kalahari Desert. Results showed that many large herbivore species are deficient in phosphorus, sodium, or zinc, and anthropogenic salt and mineral licks are an important source of these nutrients. Provisioning of mineral licks may have negative long-term effects on ecosystem integrity and should be considered cautiously.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Daniel R. Green, Daniela E. Winkler, Jennifer N. Leichliter, Gregory S. Harms, Jean-Michel Hatt, Marcus Clauss, Thomas Tuetken
Summary: This study investigates the tooth and bone formation in green iguanas using fluorescence labels and laser confocal scanning microscopy. The results show that tooth elongation rate is slow during initial enamel deposition but increases significantly after crown completion. The total timing of tooth formation is around 40-60 days. Rates of hard tissue formation in long bones correlate with animal weight gain.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Annette Liesegang, Bettina Burger, Therese de Vries de Heekelingen, Corinne Schroeter-Vogt, Jean-Michel Hatt, Mariusz P. Kowalewski, Marcus Clauss
Summary: Hindgut fermenting herbivores, such as tortoises and certain mammals, absorb more calcium from their diet than they need and excrete the excess calcium through urine. The exact reasons for this mechanism are still unclear, but it may be related to ensuring phosphorus availability for gut microbes by removing calcium. Ussing chamber experiments on rabbits showed that active calcium absorption increased with higher dietary calcium levels, contradicting the assumption that passive uptake would be more prevalent at higher levels. This finding supports the hypothesis of deliberate removal of calcium. However, the distribution of proteins involved in active calcium absorption suggests that other factors not investigated in this study play a major role in rabbits' calcium absorption.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Marcus Clauss, Dennis W. H. Mueller
Summary: The prevalence of cancer in zoo animals has gained attention due to its potential insights into human lifespan extension and cancer research. It is important for zoo researchers to consider the age factor when identifying species susceptible or resistant to cancer, as cancer is primarily an age-related disease. In zoos, species with longer lifespans relative to their maximum lifespan are more likely to have a higher cancer prevalence. Improvements in animal husbandry and increased longevity may result in a higher occurrence of cancer in zoo animals.
Article
Zoology
J. Bosch, A. McGrosky, A. Tuuga, J. Tangah, M. Clauss, I. Matsuda
Summary: Studies on diurnal primates have found that nocturnal periods are not just for sleeping but also for digestive activity. A study on proboscis monkeys in Malaysian Borneo revealed that they frequently awake at night, but their rumination-like behavior does not occur more frequently than during the day. Further research is needed to determine whether the frequent waking up at night is an adaptive strategy for predation avoidance or a result of disturbances.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
T. Tacail, J. Lewis, M. Clauss, C. D. Coath, R. Evershed, E. Albalat, T. R. Elliott, T. Tuetken
Summary: This paper investigates the role of potassium stable isotopes in endothermic vertebrates and their impact on dietary behaviors and potassium homeostasis. The study reveals that natural variability of potassium isotopes is primarily controlled by diet and can propagate throughout trophic chains. Cellular potassium isotopes in individuals are related to potassium cycling intensity and homeostasis. The research provides a promising tool and model for studying potassium isotopes and dyshomeostasis.