The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter
The relationship between body fat reserves in autumn and age-specific mortality in winter were examined in Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik). Total dissectible fat (TDF) was measured in 17 females, 1-12 years of age, shot on Spitsbergen (78°N lat.) in autumn 1980-1981. TDF d...
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Language: | English |
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
1986
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.664 https://doaj.org/article/9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef 2023-05-15T18:04:01+02:00 The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter N. J.C. Tyler 1986-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.664 https://doaj.org/article/9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef EN eng Septentrio Academic Publishing https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/664 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.6.2.664 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef Rangifer, Vol 6, Iss 2 (1986) body composition energy balance mortality reindeer Rangifer starvation Animal culture SF1-1100 article 1986 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.664 2022-12-31T12:18:08Z The relationship between body fat reserves in autumn and age-specific mortality in winter were examined in Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik). Total dissectible fat (TDF) was measured in 17 females, 1-12 years of age, shot on Spitsbergen (78°N lat.) in autumn 1980-1981. TDF declined with age in reindeer 2 years and older. The youngest females which died in winter, with the exception of calves, were aged 7 years old. A direct causal link between low autumn TDF and mortality in winter seemed unlikely. Mortality was clearly associated with the degree of wear of molariform teeth. Perhaps severe tooth wear results in inefficient mastication of low quality forage and a decline in the rate of passage of digesta, thereby restricting the amount of food that reindeer can eat. A simple model of the energy balance of female Svalbard reindeer in winter shows that they must obtaine not less than about 74% of their total energy requirements from forage. Consequently, differences in the ability of individual reindeer to feed in winter are potentially more important for survival than differences in their fat content in autumn. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer Spitsbergen Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Svalbard Rangifer 6 2 311 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
body composition energy balance mortality reindeer Rangifer starvation Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
body composition energy balance mortality reindeer Rangifer starvation Animal culture SF1-1100 N. J.C. Tyler The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
topic_facet |
body composition energy balance mortality reindeer Rangifer starvation Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
The relationship between body fat reserves in autumn and age-specific mortality in winter were examined in Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik). Total dissectible fat (TDF) was measured in 17 females, 1-12 years of age, shot on Spitsbergen (78°N lat.) in autumn 1980-1981. TDF declined with age in reindeer 2 years and older. The youngest females which died in winter, with the exception of calves, were aged 7 years old. A direct causal link between low autumn TDF and mortality in winter seemed unlikely. Mortality was clearly associated with the degree of wear of molariform teeth. Perhaps severe tooth wear results in inefficient mastication of low quality forage and a decline in the rate of passage of digesta, thereby restricting the amount of food that reindeer can eat. A simple model of the energy balance of female Svalbard reindeer in winter shows that they must obtaine not less than about 74% of their total energy requirements from forage. Consequently, differences in the ability of individual reindeer to feed in winter are potentially more important for survival than differences in their fat content in autumn. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
N. J.C. Tyler |
author_facet |
N. J.C. Tyler |
author_sort |
N. J.C. Tyler |
title |
The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
title_short |
The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
title_full |
The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
title_fullStr |
The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
title_full_unstemmed |
The relationship between the fat content of Svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
title_sort |
relationship between the fat content of svalbard reindeer in autumn and their death from starvation in winter |
publisher |
Septentrio Academic Publishing |
publishDate |
1986 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.664 https://doaj.org/article/9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef |
geographic |
Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard |
genre |
Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer Spitsbergen |
genre_facet |
Rangifer Rangifer tarandus Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Svalbard svalbard reindeer Spitsbergen |
op_source |
Rangifer, Vol 6, Iss 2 (1986) |
op_relation |
https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/664 https://doaj.org/toc/1890-6729 doi:10.7557/2.6.2.664 1890-6729 https://doaj.org/article/9d0d3313b44a4ac6a8a6455c44a91aef |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.664 |
container_title |
Rangifer |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
311 |
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1766175253733572608 |