INDICES OF BODY CONDITION AND BODY COMPOSITION IN FEMALE ANTARCTIC FUR SEALS ( ARCTOCEPHALUS GAZELLA)

• Published in: Marine Mammal Science
• Main Author: Arnould, John P. Y.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1995
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Fur Seals; Arctocephalus gazella
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1995.tb00286.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1748-7692.1995.tb00286.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1995.tb00286.x

A bstract An attempt was made to develop simple, inexpensive, rapid means of determining body composition in Antarctic fur seals ( Arctocephalus gazella ). Measurements of total body water ( TBW ) and total body lipid ( TBL ), obtained by hydrogen isotope dilution, were compared to the results of bioelectrical impedance analysis ( BIA ) and morphometric indices of body condition in 52 adult females. TBW was weakly correlated with BIA measurements of resistance ( v = ‐0.30, P < 0.03). Conductor volume (length2/resistance) was more highly correlated with TBW ( r = 0.75, P < 0.0001) and the inclusion of mass into the predictive equation improved the correlation further ( r = 0.95, P < 0.0001). A body condition index (mass/length) previously used in pinniped studies was positively correlated to TBL ( r = 0.77, P < 0.0001) validating its use as a relative index of condition. However, body mass alone was highly correlated to TBW ( r = 0.94, P < 0.0001) and appears to provide a simple, rapid means of estimating body composition in adult females. This technique may also be applicable to juvenile male Antarctic fur seals.