another post (from BobMac):
--- In
UVB_Meter_Owners@yahoogroups.com, "theldara" <theldara@p...>
wrote:
>
> here (though my leos do bask under normal bulbs, which people say
> they aren't supposed to do either). I've heard that it can be
helpful
> to some types of snakes when they are being problem feeders or
trying
> to cycle for breeding. I've never heard anything conclusive though
on
>
UVB positives or negatives.
Below is really great stuff from Frances and agrees with the Ferguson
paper in the files section. Just FYI stuff for the nerds here. (This
kind of information just gives me the goose bumps. Hows that for the
old fat x-biker guy being a nerd?)
BM
Abstract of Carman, Ferguson et al.'s article comparing D3 synthesis
in house geckos and spiny lizards.
Carman, Elliott N., Gary W. Ferguson, William H. Gehrmann, Tai C.
Chen, and Michael F. Holick. 2000. Photobiosynthetic opportunity
and ability for UV-B generated vitamin D synthesis in free-Living
House Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) and Texas Spiny Lizards
(Sceloporus olivaceous). Copeia. 0(1):245-250.
Copeia is the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and
Herpetologists, website:
http://www.asih.org/index.html
Abstracts of articles published in Copeia are online, via the Allen
Press website at
http://apt.allenpress.com/aptonline/...ive&issn=0045-
8511
and a search brought up this abstract at:
http://apt.allenpress.com/aptonline/...act&issn=0045-
8511&volume=000&issue=01&page=0245
Abstract:
The opportunity and ability to photobiosynthesize vitamin D(3) by
exposing skin to ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation from the sun was
compared using the nocturnal/ crepuscular Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus and the diurnal Texas Spiny Lizard Sceloporus
olivaceous. Texas spiny lizards had a greater opportunity for
photobiosynthetic production of vitamin D(3) than geckos. This was
revealed by vitamin D(3) photoproduct production in models (ampoules
containing an alcohol solution of vitamin D(3) precursor) placed at
locations inhabited by free-living lizards at similar times of
occupancy. Alternatively, geckos seemed able to maximize their
limited photobiosynthetic opportunity with a higher rate of
conversion of provitamin D(3) to photoproducts. This was revealed by
photoproduct conversion in patches of lizard skin exposed to
ultraviolet lamps in the laboratory. Stomach-content analysis showed
the spiny lizards to have dietary sources of vitamin D(3), the geckos
may or may not. This is the first documentation that mostly nocturnal
geckos may rely on photobiosynthesis of vitamin D(3) and that they
might have a more sensitive mechanism than diurnal lizards to
compensate for their limited exposure to natural
UVB radiation.
Future studies should investigate sexual, seasonal, age, and species
differences in photobiosynthetic opportunity and ability.
Vita lights
