Abstract

FERNANDEZ, L; POLETTA, G.L.; IMHOF, A  and  SIROSKI, P.A.. Effects of natural and artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVA/UVB) on calcium and phosphorus plasmatic concentrations and growth in Caiman latirostris yearlings. InVet [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.1, pp.75-82. ISSN 1668-3498.

The sun gives out essential radiations to many life cycles of organisms. Among them, it could be mentioned the synthesis of the D₃ vitamin, which is essencial for the phosphorous - calcium metabolism. In the cases in which sun exposure is not possible, an alternative is to try to mimic those radiations by supplement of artificial UV light (ultraviolet, UVA- UVB). In order to identify the effect of different periods of exposure to artificial ultraviolet radation on of C. latirostris, growth (weight, total length and snout-vent length), calcium and phosphorous concentration were measured. Ninety-six C. latirostris around 4 months old, from 4 different nests, were used. The treatments were: total darkness, 8, and 16 hours of UVA-UVB and natural photoperiod during 90 days. There was no difference in the calcium concentrations but phosphorous concentrations was significantly less in the 16 hours treatment (p < 0.05).We can assume that the exposure of yearlings to the different treatment were not enough to alter the mineral metabolism The animals exposed to normal photoperiods showed the higher increase in size (p < 0.05). Based in the results, we can assume that a natural photoperiod would be ideal so as to achieve a greater growth in C. latirostris´ breeding.

Keywords : C. latirostris; Ultraviolet radiation; Growth; Calcium; Phosphorous.

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