title: A simulated insect diet as a water source for quail: effects on body mass and reproduction.
abstract: Compared with control birds receiving ad libitum free-water, the total water intake of male and female northern bobwhite declined when only mealworms were available as a source of water. Male northern bobwhite sustained tissue mass and reproductive function with mealworms as their only source of water. Female northern bobwhite could not sustain body, ovary, and oviduct mass, and rate of egg production with mealworms as their only source of water. We suggest that, without free-water, breeding females require a diet with a water:dry matter ratio of greater than 1:1.29 (> 44% water).
authors.affiliation: Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, USA.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patiño
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003088:Colinus / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013712:Tenebrio