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dc.contributor.authorWaugh, Courtney A
dc.contributor.authorNichols, Peter D
dc.contributor.authorNoad, Michael C
dc.contributor.authorNash, Susan Bengtson
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-27T12:01:05Z
dc.date.available2017-11-27T12:01:05Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.date.modified2013-03-26T22:16:01Z
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps10059
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/49883
dc.description.abstractThe 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.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherInter-Research
dc.publisher.placeGermany
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationY
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom271
dc.relation.ispartofpageto281
dc.relation.ispartofjournalMarine Ecology Progress Series
dc.relation.ispartofvolume471
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchOceanography
dc.subject.fieldofresearchBiochemistry and cell biology not elsewhere classified
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEcology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchZoology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3708
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode310199
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3103
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode3109
dc.titleLipid and fatty acid profiles of migrating Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
dc.description.versionVersion of Record (VoR)
gro.rights.copyright© 2012 Inter Research. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
gro.date.issued2012
gro.hasfulltextFull Text
gro.griffith.authorBengtson Nash, Susan


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