APPLIED NUTRITIONAL STUDIES with ZOOLOGICAL REPTILES by KYLE SAMUEL THOMPSON Bachelor of Science in Animal Science California S
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APPLIED NUTRITIONAL STUDIES WITH ZOOLOGICAL REPTILES By KYLE SAMUEL THOMPSON Bachelor of Science in Animal Science California State University Fresno Fresno, California 2006 Master of Science in Animal Science Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 2011 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May, 2016 APPLIED NUTRITIONAL STUDIED WITH ZOOLOGICAL REPTILES Dissertation Approved: Dr. Clint Krehbiel Dissertation Adviser Dr. Gerald Horn Dr. Scott Carter Dr. Lionel Dawson ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -Anatole France First and foremost, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has always provided a light for me during times of discouragement. Secondly I would like to give a very big thank you to my advisor and mentor Dr. Clint Krehbiel who has been very patient and caring all these years. Thank you for all the guidance and giving me the freedom to pursue my dreams. I also want to extend a thank you to Donna Perry, Diana Batson, and Debra Danley for always being there for me to comfort and laugh. I would like to send a special thank you to the San Diego Zoo Nutrition Services team, Dr. Mike Schlegel, Edith Galindo and Michele Gaffney. Thank you for your guidance and patience and continued friendship. Further thank you is needed to Dr. Schlegel for accepting me in 2009 and opening my eyes to the world of zoo and captive wildlife nutrition. A large heart felt thank you to all my friends and family who I hold close to my heart. Without your love and support I would not be here today. Thank you for all the encouragement, motivation and love. “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13, NIV iii Acknowledgements reflect the views of the author and are not endorsed by committee members or Oklahoma State University. Name: KYLE SAMUEL THOMPSON Date of Degree: May, 2016 Title of Study: APPLIED NUTRITIONAL STUDIES WITH ZOOLOGICAL REPTILES Major Field: ANIMAL SCIENCE The first clinical case evaluated the body condition estimates of Brothers Island Tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri) housed at the San Diego Zoo to that of the wild. The tuataras that are cared for by the San Diego Zoo (SDZ) are larger and have a greater conditioning score than that of the tuataras sampled in the wild. Over the 9 year period of sampling the SDZ tuatara had a mean increase in mass of 125.2 %, SVL of 31.7 %, and BCE of 7.5%. The second clinical case evaluated ascorbic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, and trace elements in serum of zoo crocodilians. For the 20 individuals from four species (Alligator mississippiensis; Alligator sinensis; Crococdylus johnsoni; and Gavialis gangeticus), serum nutrient concentrations averaged 11.06 mg Ca/dl, 91.66 μg Cu/dl, 36.88 μg Fe/dl, 2.86 mg Mg/dl, 4.03 mg P/dl, 3.97 mEq K/L, 153.88 mEq Ma/L, 41.43 mg Zn/dl, 0.50 μg vitamin A/dl, 46.70 μg vitamin E/dl, and 0.66 mg ascorbic acid/dl. The third study evaluated the nutrient composition of banana tree (Musa sp.) leaf, petiole, and pseudo- stem at the San Diego Zoo. In a zoo environment, different banana tree components are commonly fed to various animals. At the San Diego Zoo, banana tree (Musa sp.) petiole and leaves are part of the gorillas’ (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) browse rotation, and the pseudo-stem is fed once weekly to the Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis nigra). Knowing nutritional composition of different banana tree components can improve diet formulation for captive zoo animals. For this study, the length, weight, and nutritional composition of banana tree, leaves, petiole, and pseudo-stems was analyzed. The last study compared the estimated digestibility of two commercially-available herbivorous tortoise pellets versus historic San Diego Zoo Global diets. Trial 1 consisted of a series of digestibility trials on produce-based and commercial pelleted diets, using animals in the SDZG collection. Trial 2 examined the same range of information in a more controlled fashion by simulating the herbivorous tortoise’s digestive system within a test tube. The results may be used to improve husbandry at zoos and to better educate pet owners on appropriate care of their companions. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 History and Overview ..............................................................................................1 Approach to the Unknown: Basic Procedure for Formulating a Diet for an Animal with Unknown Nutrient Requirements ....................................................................6 The Challenges of Formulating Diets for Captive Wild Animals .........................11 Figure 1. European and North American ruminant feeding types .........................16 Figure 2. African ruminant feeding types ..............................................................17 Figure 3. Captive wildlife nutrition matrix ............................................................18 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE..................................................................................19 Reptile Nutrition Review .......................................................................................19 Herbivore Tortoise Nutrition Review ....................................................................22 Calcium ............................................................................................................28 Vitamin D3 .......................................................................................................29 Vitamin B Complex .........................................................................................30 Magnesium .......................................................................................................30 Iodine ...............................................................................................................31 Fat ....................................................................................................................31 Protein ..............................................................................................................31 Energy ..............................................................................................................32 Water ................................................................................................................33 Staple Diet/Fiber ..............................................................................................33 Literature Cited ......................................................................................................36 Table 1. List of common wild plants that can be offered to captive tortoises .......42 Table 2. Herbivorous tortoise, common toxic plant list .........................................43 v Chapter Page III. COMPARING BODY CONDITION ESTIMATES OF ZOO BROTHER’S ISLAND TUATARA (SPHENDODON GUNTHERI) TO THAT OF THE WILD, A CLINICAL CASE ..................................................................................................44 Abstract ..................................................................................................................44 Introduction ............................................................................................................45 Methods..................................................................................................................46 Results and Discussion ..........................................................................................46 Acknowledgments..................................................................................................48 Literature Cited ......................................................................................................48 Tables .....................................................................................................................50 Figures....................................................................................................................51 IV. ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN E, VITAMIN A, AND TRACE ELEMENTS IN SERUM OF ZOO CROCODILIANS ....................................................................54 Abstract ..................................................................................................................54 Introduction ............................................................................................................55 Methods..................................................................................................................55 Results ....................................................................................................................56 Conclusion .............................................................................................................58 Literature Cited ......................................................................................................58 Tables .....................................................................................................................60 V. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF BANANA TREE (MUSA SP.) LEAF, PETIOLE, AND PSEUDO-STEM AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO............................................63 Introduction ............................................................................................................63