气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security

CCPortal

DOI	10.1038/s41598-024-54874-4
	Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security
	Natusch, D.; Aust, P. W.; Caraguel, C.; Taggart, P. L.; Ngo, V. T.; Alexander, G. J.; Shine, R.; Coulson, T.
发表日期	2024
ISSN	2045-2322
起始页码	14
结束页码	1
卷号	14 期号:1
英文摘要	Diminishing natural resources and increasing climatic volatility are impacting agri-food systems, prompting the need for sustainable and resilient alternatives. Python farming is well established in Asia but has received little attention from mainstream agricultural scientists. We measured growth rates in two species of large pythons (Malayopython reticulatus and Python bivittatus) in farms in Thailand and Vietnam and conducted feeding experiments to examine production efficiencies. Pythons grew rapidly over a 12-month period, and females grew faster than males. Food intake and growth rates early in life were strong predictors of total lifetime growth, with daily mass increments ranging from 0.24 to 19.7 g/day for M. reticulatus and 0.24 to 42.6 g/day for P. bivittatus, depending on food intake. Pythons that fasted for up to 4.2 months lost an average of 0.004% of their body mass per day, and resumed rapid growth as soon as feeding recommenced. Mean food conversion rate for dressed carcasses was 4.1%, with useable products (dressed carcass, skin, fat, gall bladder) comprising 82% of the mass of live animals. In terms of food and protein conversion ratios, pythons outperform all mainstream agricultural species studied to date. The ability of fasting pythons to regulate metabolic processes and maintain body condition enhances food security in volatile environments, suggesting that python farming may offer a flexible and efficient response to global food insecurity.
英文关键词	Malayopython reticulatus; Python bivittatus; Reptile; Snake; Sustainable food production; Climate change resilience
语种	英语
WOS研究方向	Science & Technology - Other Topics
WOS类目	Multidisciplinary Sciences
WOS记录号	WOS:001185787000065
来源期刊	SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/298274
作者单位	Macquarie University; University of Oxford; University of Witwatersrand; University of Adelaide; Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology (VAST)
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Natusch, D.,Aust, P. W.,Caraguel, C.,et al. Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security[J],2024,14(1).
APA	Natusch, D..,Aust, P. W..,Caraguel, C..,Taggart, P. L..,Ngo, V. T..,...&Coulson, T..(2024).Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security.SCIENTIFIC REPORTS,14(1).
MLA	Natusch, D.,et al."Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security".SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 14.1(2024).