This chapter considers the notion and correlation between nutrition, feeding, and digestion. Nutrition is the study of the chemical compounds that compose and synthesise the bodies of animals. Proteins and lipids are the major components of the body and these allow further understanding of animal nutrition. The chapter defines digestion as the breakdown of food molecules by enzyme action into smaller chemical components, while absorption refers to the entry of molecules into the living tissues of an animal from outside those tissues. The chapter also details the nutritional physiology in longer time frames, while referencing the developmental and clock-driven changes.
Chapter
Nutrition, Feeding, and Digestion
Book
F. Harvey Pough, Robin M. Andrews, Martha L. Crump, Alan H. Savitzky, Kentwood D. Wells, and Matthew C. Brandley
Herpetology explains why amphibians and reptiles, which are distantly related evolutionary lineages, are grouped in the discipline known as herpetology, and describes the position of amphibians and reptiles within the evolution of vertebrates. Part I asks, what are amphibians and reptiles? It considers the origins, systematics, and diversity of amphibians and reptiles. Part II looks at the way that amphibians and reptiles actually function. It looks at reproduction and feeding. The third part questions what amphibians and reptiles do? It looks at how they communicate, mate, and at their diets. The last part looks to the future, considering the conservation of amphibians and reptiles and their prospects for survival.
Chapter
Lepidosaurs
Tuatara, Lizards, and Snakes
This chapter explains how the crown group Lepidosauria is one of the two largest clades of tetrapods. It looks into the diverse groups of lepidosaurs and their body forms and habitats. Extant lepidosaurs branched into two lineages: a single species of rhynchocephalian (also known as the tuatara), and more than 11,000 species of squamates. Mriad specializations have arisen in different groups in regard to feeding and foraging, social behavior, and reproduction. The chapter elaborates on the evolution of lepidosaurs in terms of skull kinesis, feeding, predator avoidance, and social behavior. It mentions that anthropogenic climate change poses major threats to the lineage of lepidosaurs.
Chapter
Extant Birds
This chapter focuses on the taxonomic diversity of extant birds. It shows how extant birds are divided into Paleognathae and Neognathae, in accordance with their palatal anatomy. The main characteristics of birds include flight at a structural level and diurnality and this has played a significant role in their lives. The chapter details the myriad structural specializations for flight, bipedalism, and feeding that have produced this diversity before considering sensory systems, reproduction, and behavior. It also looks into how declines in abundance can influence species-typical songs of birds, citing how declines in abundance occurred across all biomes aside from the wetlands.
Chapter
Therians
This chapter tackles the evolutionary history of Theria and its two clades, Marsupalia and Eutheria. Therians are viviparous amniotes which give birth to young after a period of internal gestation. Although most therians are terrestrial, there are also therians with burrowing, aquatic, and flying forms. Thus, the evolution of these different ways of life led to corresponding diversity in anatomy, body size, and ecology, as well as many striking cases of convergent evolution. The chapter considers the diversity of Metatheria and Eutheria in relation to the key elements of therian reproductive biology and specializations for feeding and locomotion. It notes how mammals front extinction risk at the hands of humans, which includes habitat loss and the introduction of alien species.
Chapter
Feeding and nutrition
This chapter focuses on the feeding and nutrition of zoo animals. It discusses feeding ecology while looking at different categories of animals such as omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores. The chapter also discusses basic nutritional theory alongside the dietary requirements of animals, covering metabolizable energy. It introduces Zootrition asa major nutritional software package and database which includes an energy requirement calculating the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Additionally, the chapter alludes to the guidelines and legislation on feeding zoo animals in the UK and European Union. It then turns to discussing the storage, preparation, supply, and presentation of food given to animals. It highlights possible nutritional problems of zoo animals such as metabolic bone diseases, iron storage disease, malnutrition, mineral deficiencies, and obesity.
