Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator

Abstract Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding...

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Autores principales:	Karyn D. Rode, Charles T. Robbins, Craig A. Stricker, Brian D. Taras, Troy N. Tollefson
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/db61c722c67248d7a3ce597033b411c3
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:db61c722c67248d7a3ce597033b411c32021-12-02T16:31:51ZEnergetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator10.1038/s41598-021-94917-82045-2322https://doaj.org/article/db61c722c67248d7a3ce597033b411c32021-07-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94917-8https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein:fat ratio of diets consumed by wild polar bears using a novel isotope-based approach, measured protein:fat ratios selected by zoo polar bears offered dietary choice and examined potential energetic and health consequences of overconsuming protein. Dietary protein levels selected by wild and zoo polar bears were low and similar to selection observed in omnivorous brown bears, which reduced energy intake requirements by 70% compared with lean meat diets. Higher-protein diets fed to zoo polar bears during normal care were concurrent with high rates of mortality from kidney disease and liver cancer. Our results suggest that polar bears have low protein requirements and that limitations on selective consumption of marine mammal blubber consequent to climate change could meaningfully increase their energetic costs. Although bear protein requirements appear lower than those of other carnivores, the energetic and health consequences of protein overconsumption identified in this study have the potential to affect a wide range of taxa.Karyn D. RodeCharles T. RobbinsCraig A. StrickerBrian D. TarasTroy N. TollefsonNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Karyn D. Rode Charles T. Robbins Craig A. Stricker Brian D. Taras Troy N. Tollefson Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
description	Abstract Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein:fat ratio of diets consumed by wild polar bears using a novel isotope-based approach, measured protein:fat ratios selected by zoo polar bears offered dietary choice and examined potential energetic and health consequences of overconsuming protein. Dietary protein levels selected by wild and zoo polar bears were low and similar to selection observed in omnivorous brown bears, which reduced energy intake requirements by 70% compared with lean meat diets. Higher-protein diets fed to zoo polar bears during normal care were concurrent with high rates of mortality from kidney disease and liver cancer. Our results suggest that polar bears have low protein requirements and that limitations on selective consumption of marine mammal blubber consequent to climate change could meaningfully increase their energetic costs. Although bear protein requirements appear lower than those of other carnivores, the energetic and health consequences of protein overconsumption identified in this study have the potential to affect a wide range of taxa.
format	article
author	Karyn D. Rode Charles T. Robbins Craig A. Stricker Brian D. Taras Troy N. Tollefson
author_facet	Karyn D. Rode Charles T. Robbins Craig A. Stricker Brian D. Taras Troy N. Tollefson
author_sort	Karyn D. Rode
title	Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
title_short	Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
title_full	Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
title_fullStr	Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
title_full_unstemmed	Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
title_sort	energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/db61c722c67248d7a3ce597033b411c3
work_keys_str_mv	AT karyndrode energeticandhealtheffectsofproteinoverconsumptionconstraindietaryadaptationinanapexpredator AT charlestrobbins energeticandhealtheffectsofproteinoverconsumptionconstraindietaryadaptationinanapexpredator AT craigastricker energeticandhealtheffectsofproteinoverconsumptionconstraindietaryadaptationinanapexpredator AT briandtaras energeticandhealtheffectsofproteinoverconsumptionconstraindietaryadaptationinanapexpredator AT troyntollefson energeticandhealtheffectsofproteinoverconsumptionconstraindietaryadaptationinanapexpredator
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Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator

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