Anthropogenic activities have negatively affected many birds, including owls. The Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana (WHL) has seen a 3.2-fold increase in barred owl () cases over the past eight years (2023, 134; 2015, 42).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReptiles are highly susceptible to anthropogenic activities as a result of their narrow geographical ranges and habitat specialization, making them a conservation concern. Geckos represent one of the mega-diverse reptile lineages under pressure; however, limited assisted reproductive technologies currently exist for these animals. Exogenous pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) has been found to exhibit follicle stimulating hormone-like action and has been routinely used to alter reproductive hormones of vertebrates in assisted reproductive protocols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlack soldier fly (BSF) larvae are potentially an excellent source of calcium for insectivores; however, previous studies have identified that they lack appreciable amounts of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D , and E). To make BSF larvae a more complete food item, fat-soluble vitamins should either be provided via gut loading or with a multivitamin dusting supplement. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with gut loading vitamin A into BSF larvae and to develop feeding recommendations for a more consistent gut-loading process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlack soldier fly (BSF) larvae have been marketed as an excellent choice for providing calcium to reptiles without the need of dusting or gut loading. However, previous studies have indicated that they have limited calcium digestibility and are deficient in fat soluble vitamins (A, D3, and E). In this feeding and digestibility trial, 24 adult male leopard geckos were fed one of three diets for 4 months: 1) whole, vitamin A gut loaded larvae; 2) needle pierced, vitamin A gut loaded larvae; or 3) whole, non-gut loaded larvae.
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