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Milk fatty acid composition of perinatal and foraging Steller sea lions (Eumetopiasjubatus): examination from pup stomachs

Authors :
C.N. Miller
L.K. Polasek
A.C.M. Oliveira
C.J. Frost
J.M. Maniscalco
Source :
Canadian Journal of Zoology. 96:153-162
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Canadian Science Publishing, 2018.

Abstract

To investigate the milk fatty acid composition of female Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)) between and within maternal states (i.e., perinatal or foraging), milk samples were collected in 2010 and 2011 via gastric intubation from Steller sea lion pups on a small rookery in the central Gulf of Alaska. Maternal states of lactating females were determined upon reuniting with their sampled pups via remotely operated video cameras on the rookery. Milk fatty acid composition between Steller sea lion maternal states was significantly different, and thus can be utilized to distinguish between perinatal and foraging Steller sea lions of the same geographic region in the absence of direct observation. However, milk fatty acid composition remained relatively constant within perinatal Steller sea lions, suggesting steady mobilization of fatty acids from blubber to milk, and within foraging Steller sea lions, implying females forage on similar prey species within several days after their perinatal period. Differences in milk fatty acid composition between maternal states, including differences in the relative percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids, may have important implications for growth and development of offspring.

Details

ISSN :
14803283 and 00084301
Volume :
96
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........5bf2af2a401c38af80c7b59520b7ef52
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2016-0015