Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals
Fatty acid signature analysis is based on the principle that unique arrays of fatty acids within groups of organisms can be transferred, largely unaltered, up the marine food chain and thus may be an indicator of diet composition. We applied fatty acid signature analysis to milks collected from Anta...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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1997
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514494/ https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:514494 2023-05-15T13:49:33+02:00 Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals Iverson, S. J. Arnould, J. P. Y. Boyd, I. L. 1997 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514494/ https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 unknown NRC Research Press Iverson, S. J.; Arnould, J. P. Y.; Boyd, I. L. 1997 Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 75 (2). 188-197. https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 <https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1997 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 2023-02-04T19:43:33Z Fatty acid signature analysis is based on the principle that unique arrays of fatty acids within groups of organisms can be transferred, largely unaltered, up the marine food chain and thus may be an indicator of diet composition. We applied fatty acid signature analysis to milks collected from Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at South Georgia in 1990–1991, during the perinatal period (N = 19) and subsequently during early (N = 11), mid (N = 11), and late (N = 8) foraging trips. In lactating otariid females, milk fatty acids secreted during the perinatal fast are derived largely from blubber mobilization and thus are influenced by dietary history prior to parturition. Conversely, milk fatty acids secreted during foraging trips are derived primarily from immediate dietary intake. The fatty acid signature of perinatal milks was significantly different from that of all other milks, suggesting differences in the prepartum diet when females are away from the breeding grounds. At the onset of foraging periods, the fatty acid composition of milks' changed dramatically to reflect a diet composed mainly of krill. However, during late foraging periods, milk fatty acids again changed from those of early and mid foraging, and suggested a predominance of teleost fish in the diet. These findings were consistent with independent assessments of diet by faecal analysis and indicate the potential value of fatty acid signature analysis in studying foraging ecology in free-ranging pinnipeds. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Canadian Journal of Zoology 75 2 188 197 |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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description |
Fatty acid signature analysis is based on the principle that unique arrays of fatty acids within groups of organisms can be transferred, largely unaltered, up the marine food chain and thus may be an indicator of diet composition. We applied fatty acid signature analysis to milks collected from Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at South Georgia in 1990–1991, during the perinatal period (N = 19) and subsequently during early (N = 11), mid (N = 11), and late (N = 8) foraging trips. In lactating otariid females, milk fatty acids secreted during the perinatal fast are derived largely from blubber mobilization and thus are influenced by dietary history prior to parturition. Conversely, milk fatty acids secreted during foraging trips are derived primarily from immediate dietary intake. The fatty acid signature of perinatal milks was significantly different from that of all other milks, suggesting differences in the prepartum diet when females are away from the breeding grounds. At the onset of foraging periods, the fatty acid composition of milks' changed dramatically to reflect a diet composed mainly of krill. However, during late foraging periods, milk fatty acids again changed from those of early and mid foraging, and suggested a predominance of teleost fish in the diet. These findings were consistent with independent assessments of diet by faecal analysis and indicate the potential value of fatty acid signature analysis in studying foraging ecology in free-ranging pinnipeds. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Iverson, S. J. Arnould, J. P. Y. Boyd, I. L. |
spellingShingle |
Iverson, S. J. Arnould, J. P. Y. Boyd, I. L. Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
author_facet |
Iverson, S. J. Arnould, J. P. Y. Boyd, I. L. |
author_sort |
Iverson, S. J. |
title |
Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
title_short |
Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
title_full |
Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
title_fullStr |
Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals |
title_sort |
milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating antarctic fur seals |
publisher |
NRC Research Press |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514494/ https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella |
op_relation |
Iverson, S. J.; Arnould, J. P. Y.; Boyd, I. L. 1997 Milk fatty acid signatures indicate both major and minor shifts in the diet of lactating Antarctic fur seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 75 (2). 188-197. https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 <https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-026 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
75 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
188 |
op_container_end_page |
197 |
_version_ |
1766251550335827968 |