Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance
We studied milk composition over the course of lactation in 21 harbour seal (Phoca vitulina L., 1758) females on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Milk fat content increased significantly from 40.8% ± 1.01% at parturition to 50.2% ± 1.39% at day 7 and then remained relatively constant throughout the remain...
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z05-149 2023-12-17T10:31:16+01:00 Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance Lang, S L.C Iverson, S J Bowen, W D 2005 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z05-149 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z05-149 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 83, issue 12, page 1525-1531 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2005 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z05-149 2023-11-19T13:38:44Z We studied milk composition over the course of lactation in 21 harbour seal (Phoca vitulina L., 1758) females on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Milk fat content increased significantly from 40.8% ± 1.01% at parturition to 50.2% ± 1.39% at day 7 and then remained relatively constant throughout the remainder of lactation. Changes in dry matter mirrored changes in fat content. Protein content averaged about 9% over mid to late lactation. There was considerable between-individual variation in the composition of milk and how it changed over lactation, particularly in milk fat content (CV 9.1%–11.4%). In three females that were separated from their pups for 4–6 days, milk fat content declined by 20%–23% and milk protein content increased by 6%–11%. These changes in milk composition indicate that changes in mammary gland function occur rapidly following the onset of milk stasis in harbour seals. The rapid response of the mammary glands to separation suggests that, in direct contrast to the glands of otariids, the glands of harbour seals rely on regular evacuation to maintain normal function. These results suggest that there may be a significant physiological constraint on the duration that harbour seal females, and presumably other phocid seals, can forage without negatively affecting energy transfer to their pups. Article in Journal/Newspaper harbour seal Phoca vitulina Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) Canadian Journal of Zoology 83 12 1525 1531 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Lang, S L.C Iverson, S J Bowen, W D Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
We studied milk composition over the course of lactation in 21 harbour seal (Phoca vitulina L., 1758) females on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Milk fat content increased significantly from 40.8% ± 1.01% at parturition to 50.2% ± 1.39% at day 7 and then remained relatively constant throughout the remainder of lactation. Changes in dry matter mirrored changes in fat content. Protein content averaged about 9% over mid to late lactation. There was considerable between-individual variation in the composition of milk and how it changed over lactation, particularly in milk fat content (CV 9.1%–11.4%). In three females that were separated from their pups for 4–6 days, milk fat content declined by 20%–23% and milk protein content increased by 6%–11%. These changes in milk composition indicate that changes in mammary gland function occur rapidly following the onset of milk stasis in harbour seals. The rapid response of the mammary glands to separation suggests that, in direct contrast to the glands of otariids, the glands of harbour seals rely on regular evacuation to maintain normal function. These results suggest that there may be a significant physiological constraint on the duration that harbour seal females, and presumably other phocid seals, can forage without negatively affecting energy transfer to their pups. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lang, S L.C Iverson, S J Bowen, W D |
author_facet |
Lang, S L.C Iverson, S J Bowen, W D |
author_sort |
Lang, S L.C |
title |
Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
title_short |
Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
title_full |
Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
title_fullStr |
Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
title_full_unstemmed |
Individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
title_sort |
individual variation in milk composition over lactation in harbour seals ( phoca vitulina ) and the potential consequences of intermittent attendance |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z05-149 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z05-149 |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 83, issue 12, page 1525-1531 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z05-149 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
83 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
1525 |
op_container_end_page |
1531 |
_version_ |
1785584479928057856 |