Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups

9 pages International audience The efficacy of a new mass-transfer method for estimating milk intake was examined in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Iles Kerguelen. Our method differed from previous mass-transfer approaches in that we estimated milk-mass transfer as the maternal mass...

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Published in:Polar Biology
Main Authors: Goldsworthy, Simon D., Lea, Marie-Anne, Guinet, Christophe
Other Authors: South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), South Australian Research and Development Institute, Sea Mammal Ecology Group, La Trobe University Melbourne, Antartic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia (UBC), Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: HAL CCSD 2004
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hal.science/hal-00186964
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7
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spelling ftunivnantes:oai:HAL:hal-00186964v1 2023-05-15T13:37:48+02:00 Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups Goldsworthy, Simon D. Lea, Marie-Anne Guinet, Christophe South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) South Australian Research and Development Institute Sea Mammal Ecology Group La Trobe University Melbourne Antartic Wildlife Research Unit School of Zoology, University of Tasmania Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 2004-07 https://hal.science/hal-00186964 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7 en eng HAL CCSD Springer Verlag info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7 hal-00186964 https://hal.science/hal-00186964 doi:10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7 ISSN: 0722-4060 EISSN: 1432-2056 Polar Biology https://hal.science/hal-00186964 Polar Biology, 2004, 27, pp.801-809. ⟨10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7⟩ [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2004 ftunivnantes https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7 2023-02-08T08:23:48Z 9 pages International audience The efficacy of a new mass-transfer method for estimating milk intake was examined in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Iles Kerguelen. Our method differed from previous mass-transfer approaches in that we estimated milk-mass transfer as the maternal mass lost (MML; kg) during an attendance bout, less the mass lost to metabolic maintenance (MMLE) over that time. MML was significantly related to pup mass-gain (PMG) and attendance bout duration (d days) as follows: MML=1.106PMG+1.002d (r2=0.998). Based on this and previous studies, we estimated that the MMLE was 0.0285 kg kg1 day1 for lactating females; and we developed the following milk-mass transfer equation: MMLM=1.106PMG+1.002d0.0285MM d (where MM is maternal mass). Milk-mass intake was also estimated in an additional 21 pups, using the isotopic dilution method. These values were then compared with estimates based on the milk mass-transfer equation for the same individual pups. A pair-wise comparison indicated that milk-mass transfer estimated using tritium dilution methods were significantly lower than those based on mass-transfer (MMLM). Furthermore, the absolute PMG exceeded tritium dilution estimates of milk-mass transfer in 35% of cases. In contrast, all milkmass transfer estimates using the mass transfer method were greater than PMG. Overestimation of metabolic water production (MWP), leading to a smaller proportion of the total water intake being attributed to milk ingestion, is believed to be the most likely cause for significant underestimation of milk-mass transfer using the tritium dilution method. Consumption of exogenous water by pups is the most likely reason for the overestimation of MWP, although errors in estimated milk water content may have also contributed to underestimates. We conclude that, in our study, the mass-transfer method provided a more reliable estimate of milk-mass transfer than the isotopic dilution method; and we argue that, under certain conditions, it provides a practical ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella Polar Biology Université de Nantes: HAL-UNIV-NANTES Antarctic Kerguelen Polar Biology 27 12 801 809
institution Open Polar
collection Université de Nantes: HAL-UNIV-NANTES
op_collection_id ftunivnantes
language English
topic [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
[SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society
[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes
spellingShingle [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
[SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society
[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes
Goldsworthy, Simon D.
Lea, Marie-Anne
Guinet, Christophe
Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
topic_facet [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
[SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society
[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes
description 9 pages International audience The efficacy of a new mass-transfer method for estimating milk intake was examined in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Iles Kerguelen. Our method differed from previous mass-transfer approaches in that we estimated milk-mass transfer as the maternal mass lost (MML; kg) during an attendance bout, less the mass lost to metabolic maintenance (MMLE) over that time. MML was significantly related to pup mass-gain (PMG) and attendance bout duration (d days) as follows: MML=1.106PMG+1.002d (r2=0.998). Based on this and previous studies, we estimated that the MMLE was 0.0285 kg kg1 day1 for lactating females; and we developed the following milk-mass transfer equation: MMLM=1.106PMG+1.002d0.0285MM d (where MM is maternal mass). Milk-mass intake was also estimated in an additional 21 pups, using the isotopic dilution method. These values were then compared with estimates based on the milk mass-transfer equation for the same individual pups. A pair-wise comparison indicated that milk-mass transfer estimated using tritium dilution methods were significantly lower than those based on mass-transfer (MMLM). Furthermore, the absolute PMG exceeded tritium dilution estimates of milk-mass transfer in 35% of cases. In contrast, all milkmass transfer estimates using the mass transfer method were greater than PMG. Overestimation of metabolic water production (MWP), leading to a smaller proportion of the total water intake being attributed to milk ingestion, is believed to be the most likely cause for significant underestimation of milk-mass transfer using the tritium dilution method. Consumption of exogenous water by pups is the most likely reason for the overestimation of MWP, although errors in estimated milk water content may have also contributed to underestimates. We conclude that, in our study, the mass-transfer method provided a more reliable estimate of milk-mass transfer than the isotopic dilution method; and we argue that, under certain conditions, it provides a practical ...
author2 South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
South Australian Research and Development Institute
Sea Mammal Ecology Group
La Trobe University Melbourne
Antartic Wildlife Research Unit
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Marine Mammal Research Unit
University of British Columbia (UBC)
Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Goldsworthy, Simon D.
Lea, Marie-Anne
Guinet, Christophe
author_facet Goldsworthy, Simon D.
Lea, Marie-Anne
Guinet, Christophe
author_sort Goldsworthy, Simon D.
title Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
title_short Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
title_full Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
title_fullStr Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in Antarctic fur seal pups
title_sort comparison of mass-transfer and isotopic dilution methods for estimating milk intake in antarctic fur seal pups
publisher HAL CCSD
publishDate 2004
url https://hal.science/hal-00186964
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7
geographic Antarctic
Kerguelen
geographic_facet Antarctic
Kerguelen
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Fur Seal
Antarctic Fur Seals
Arctocephalus gazella
Polar Biology
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Fur Seal
Antarctic Fur Seals
Arctocephalus gazella
Polar Biology
op_source ISSN: 0722-4060
EISSN: 1432-2056
Polar Biology
https://hal.science/hal-00186964
Polar Biology, 2004, 27, pp.801-809. ⟨10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7⟩
op_relation info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7
hal-00186964
https://hal.science/hal-00186964
doi:10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0648-7
container_title Polar Biology
container_volume 27
container_issue 12
container_start_page 801
op_container_end_page 809
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