SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS
ABSTRACT Among its functions, the hypodermal blubber layer of pinnipeds serves as both an energy reserve and insulation. This study examined seasonal changes in blubber distribution and body morphology in a group of captive changesharbor seals to test whether these changes were designed to maximize...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
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Language: | English |
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1997
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x |
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x 2024-03-24T09:01:40+00:00 SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS ROSEN, DAVID A. S. RENOUF, DEANE 1997 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Marine Mammal Science volume 13, issue 2, page 229-240 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1997 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x 2024-02-28T02:17:03Z ABSTRACT Among its functions, the hypodermal blubber layer of pinnipeds serves as both an energy reserve and insulation. This study examined seasonal changes in blubber distribution and body morphology in a group of captive changesharbor seals to test whether these changes were designed to maximize insulative effectiveness. Seasonal changes were found in girth, blubber volume, mean blubber depth, and the ratio of blubber depth to body radius (d/r ratio). These changes were more evident in older seals. The d/r ratio demonstrated a smaller relative annual change than mean blubber depth. The d/r ratio also exhibited less variation along the length of the seal than blubber depth at any given time. Similar to reports for ringed seals, and contrary to those for southern elephant seals, the harbor seals preferentially lost blubber from overinsulated areas of the body. These results suggest that core tissue and blubber mass are lost in a manner that maximizes insulative effectiveness. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seals Wiley Online Library Marine Mammal Science 13 2 229 240 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
topic |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ROSEN, DAVID A. S. RENOUF, DEANE SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
ABSTRACT Among its functions, the hypodermal blubber layer of pinnipeds serves as both an energy reserve and insulation. This study examined seasonal changes in blubber distribution and body morphology in a group of captive changesharbor seals to test whether these changes were designed to maximize insulative effectiveness. Seasonal changes were found in girth, blubber volume, mean blubber depth, and the ratio of blubber depth to body radius (d/r ratio). These changes were more evident in older seals. The d/r ratio demonstrated a smaller relative annual change than mean blubber depth. The d/r ratio also exhibited less variation along the length of the seal than blubber depth at any given time. Similar to reports for ringed seals, and contrary to those for southern elephant seals, the harbor seals preferentially lost blubber from overinsulated areas of the body. These results suggest that core tissue and blubber mass are lost in a manner that maximizes insulative effectiveness. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
ROSEN, DAVID A. S. RENOUF, DEANE |
author_facet |
ROSEN, DAVID A. S. RENOUF, DEANE |
author_sort |
ROSEN, DAVID A. S. |
title |
SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
title_short |
SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
title_full |
SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
title_fullStr |
SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
title_full_unstemmed |
SEASONAL CHANGES IN BLUBBER DISTRIBUTION IN ATLANTIC HARBOR SEALS: INDICATIONS OF THERMODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS |
title_sort |
seasonal changes in blubber distribution in atlantic harbor seals: indications of thermodynamic considerations |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x |
genre |
Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seals |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seals |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science volume 13, issue 2, page 229-240 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1997.tb00630.x |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
229 |
op_container_end_page |
240 |
_version_ |
1794401827210395648 |