Man's Trash Is A Lizard's Treasure?
Friday, April 6, 2012 - 05:02
in Mathematics & Economics
Veterinarians admonish us not to feed our pets "people food" because it isn't good for them. A logical corollary would then seem to be that wildlife should also be kept away from human fare and the scraps thereof. Indeed, several studies have shown that urban animals nibbling on human trash wind up with some of the same health problems that plague us as a result of consuming greasy, high-carb, packaged foods. Given these patterns, it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that Australian lace monitors (Varanus varius) may actually benefit from anthropogenic "subsidies" in the form of free meals at the local garbage dump. read more