Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae
The lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition of the outer blubber layer was characterized in 46 east Australian migrating humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae . Samples were obtained at 2 time points of the annual migration, which occurs between Antarctic feeding grounds and low-latitude breeding gro...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118931 |
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:118931 2023-05-15T13:49:03+02:00 Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Noad, MC Nash, SB 2012 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118931 en eng Inter-Research http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 Waugh, CA and Nichols, PD and Noad, MC and Nash, SB, Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae , Marine Ecology Progress Series, 471 pp. 271-281. ISSN 0171-8630 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118931 Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2012 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 2019-12-13T22:18:09Z The lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition of the outer blubber layer was characterized in 46 east Australian migrating humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae . Samples were obtained at 2 time points of the annual migration, which occurs between Antarctic feeding grounds and low-latitude breeding grounds and is associated with a prolonged period of fasting. Blubber lipid composition was dominated by triacylglycerols in all individuals, and the FA profiles of both migration cohorts and sexes were dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Results indicate that males primarily mobilise polyunsaturated fatty acids in response to migration and fasting, favouring the most readily utilisable FA as governed by their physicochemical properties. In comparison, females appear to initially mobilise short-chain (<18 carbons) MUFA stores, potentially to attend to dependent calves' thermoregulatory needs. Feeding ecology investigations suggested that humpback whales have a species-specific FA composition of their blubber, including a detectable influence of their diet. This study provides the first insight into lipid and FA profiles of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. A comprehensive understanding of FA dynamics, especially during times of energy deficit, is essential for understanding the nutritional status of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales and thereby the risks posed by growing environmental threats including toxic and persistent lipophilic pollutants. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Megaptera novaeangliae eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Antarctic Marine Ecology Progress Series 471 271 281 |
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eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
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ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems |
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Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Noad, MC Nash, SB Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
topic_facet |
Biological Sciences Physiology Animal Physiology - Systems |
description |
The lipid and fatty acid (FA) composition of the outer blubber layer was characterized in 46 east Australian migrating humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae . Samples were obtained at 2 time points of the annual migration, which occurs between Antarctic feeding grounds and low-latitude breeding grounds and is associated with a prolonged period of fasting. Blubber lipid composition was dominated by triacylglycerols in all individuals, and the FA profiles of both migration cohorts and sexes were dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Results indicate that males primarily mobilise polyunsaturated fatty acids in response to migration and fasting, favouring the most readily utilisable FA as governed by their physicochemical properties. In comparison, females appear to initially mobilise short-chain (<18 carbons) MUFA stores, potentially to attend to dependent calves' thermoregulatory needs. Feeding ecology investigations suggested that humpback whales have a species-specific FA composition of their blubber, including a detectable influence of their diet. This study provides the first insight into lipid and FA profiles of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. A comprehensive understanding of FA dynamics, especially during times of energy deficit, is essential for understanding the nutritional status of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales and thereby the risks posed by growing environmental threats including toxic and persistent lipophilic pollutants. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Noad, MC Nash, SB |
author_facet |
Waugh, CA Nichols, PD Noad, MC Nash, SB |
author_sort |
Waugh, CA |
title |
Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_short |
Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_full |
Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_fullStr |
Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
title_sort |
lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating southern hemisphere humpback whales megaptera novaeangliae |
publisher |
Inter-Research |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118931 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 Waugh, CA and Nichols, PD and Noad, MC and Nash, SB, Lipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae , Marine Ecology Progress Series, 471 pp. 271-281. ISSN 0171-8630 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118931 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10059 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
471 |
container_start_page |
271 |
op_container_end_page |
281 |
_version_ |
1766250714779090944 |