The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior
Throughout its circumpolar range, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) feeds predominantly on the ringed seal (Phoca hispida). Despite seasonal variation in availability and distribution of seals, polar bears prefer to eat mainly the fat, often leaving substantial portions of seal meat and blubber. In t...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1975
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z75-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z75-117 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z75-117 2024-09-15T18:30:19+00:00 The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior Stirling, Ian McEwan, Eoin H. 1975 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z75-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z75-117 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 53, issue 8, page 1021-1027 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1975 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z75-117 2024-08-15T04:09:32Z Throughout its circumpolar range, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) feeds predominantly on the ringed seal (Phoca hispida). Despite seasonal variation in availability and distribution of seals, polar bears prefer to eat mainly the fat, often leaving substantial portions of seal meat and blubber. In the present study, 12 seals were minced and analyzed for water, fat, protein, and ash contents. The percentage composition varied from 23 to 58% protein, 34 to 76% fat, 2 to 5.5% ash, and 47.4 to 69.5% total body water. The caloric values varied from 2.3 to 5.3 kcal/g wet weight. Relationships between total body water and fat (%), body water (litres) and protein (kg) are presented. These results are discussed in relation to the ecology and hunting behavior of the polar bear. Article in Journal/Newspaper Phoca hispida ringed seal Ursus maritimus Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 53 8 1021 1027 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Throughout its circumpolar range, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) feeds predominantly on the ringed seal (Phoca hispida). Despite seasonal variation in availability and distribution of seals, polar bears prefer to eat mainly the fat, often leaving substantial portions of seal meat and blubber. In the present study, 12 seals were minced and analyzed for water, fat, protein, and ash contents. The percentage composition varied from 23 to 58% protein, 34 to 76% fat, 2 to 5.5% ash, and 47.4 to 69.5% total body water. The caloric values varied from 2.3 to 5.3 kcal/g wet weight. Relationships between total body water and fat (%), body water (litres) and protein (kg) are presented. These results are discussed in relation to the ecology and hunting behavior of the polar bear. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stirling, Ian McEwan, Eoin H. |
spellingShingle |
Stirling, Ian McEwan, Eoin H. The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
author_facet |
Stirling, Ian McEwan, Eoin H. |
author_sort |
Stirling, Ian |
title |
The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
title_short |
The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
title_full |
The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
title_fullStr |
The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
title_full_unstemmed |
The caloric value of whole ringed seals ( Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
title_sort |
caloric value of whole ringed seals ( phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear ( ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1975 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z75-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z75-117 |
genre |
Phoca hispida ringed seal Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Phoca hispida ringed seal Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 53, issue 8, page 1021-1027 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z75-117 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
53 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1021 |
op_container_end_page |
1027 |
_version_ |
1810471801572032512 |