The endangered common hamster needs proteins: identifying diversified crop-based diets improving hibernation and reproductive success.

ABSTRACT: Modern production-oriented farming has led to a decline in agricultural biodiversity. In Europe, one example of concern is the common hamster Cricetus cricetus, a hibernating rodent once largely distributed in farmlands and now listed as Critically Endangered. The decline of this species is tied to a significant decrease in hamsters' body mass at emergence from hibernation and in reproduction rate. Previous work has shown that monocultures of maize and wheat, which induce severe nutrient deficiencies, are a major cause of this phenomenon. To prevent such deficiencies, we tested in controlled conditions the effect of eight nutritive diets on hamsters' hibernation and reproduction. Diets were selected for their nutritional content and based on farmers' consultation. We tested three li

SUBMITTER: Gerard T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11638673 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature