Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Indices of body condition and body composition in female Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella)

journal contribution
posted on 1995-07-01, 00:00 authored by John ArnouldJohn Arnould
An attempt was made to develop simple, inexpensive, rapid means of determining body composition in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). Measurements of total body water (TBW) and total body lipid (TBL), obtained by hydrogen isotope dilution, were compared to the results of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and morphometric indices of body condition in 52 adult females. TBW was weakly correlated with BIA measurements of resistance (v= ‐0.30, P < 0.03). Conductor volume (length2/resistance) was more highly correlated with TBW(r= 0.75, P < 0.0001) and the inclusion of mass into the predictive equation improved the correlation further (r= 0.95, P < 0.0001). A body condition index (mass/length) previously used in pinniped studies was positively correlated to TBL (r= 0.77, P < 0.0001) validating its use as a relative index of condition. However, body mass alone was highly correlated to TBW (r= 0.94, P < 0.0001) and appears to provide a simple, rapid means of estimating body composition in adult females. This technique may also be applicable to juvenile male Antarctic fur seals.

History

Journal

Marine mammal science

Volume

11

Issue

3

Pagination

301 - 313

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing

Location

Hoboken, N.J.

ISSN

0824-0469

eISSN

1748-7692

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

1995, the Society for Marine Mammalogy