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Stratification and age-related differences in blubber fatty acids of the male harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

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Abstract

Fatty acid composition of blubber was determined at four body sites of 19 male harbour porpoises. A total of 65 fatty acids were quantified in each sample. The array of fatty acids contained in harbour porpoise blubber was similar to those found in other marine mammals. While chemical composition of total blubber was uniform over the body, with the exception of the caudal peduncle, vertical stratification was evident between the deep (inner) and superficial (outer) blubber layers. Fatty acids with chain lengths shorter than 18 carbons were present in significantly greater amounts in the outer blubber layer, while the longer-chain unsaturated fatty acids were more prevalent in the inner layer. This distribution suggests that the inner blubber layer is more active metabolically than the outer layer in terms of lipid deposition and mobilization. The degree of stratification between the two layers appears to increase with age, indicating a predictable turnover in the blubber layer of male porpoises. Harbour porpoise blubber contained high levels (2–27%) of isovaleric acid in the outer blubber layer, and these levels were positively correlated with age.

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Abbreviations

Caud :

caudal dorsal body site

GC :

gas chromatograph

FA :

fatty acid(s)

IUPAC :

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

PUFA :

polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

II dor :

II dorsal body site

III dor :

III Dorsal body site

II Ven :

II ventral body site

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Author notes

  1. S. J. Iverson

    Present address: Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    H. N. Koopman & D. E. Gaskin

  2. Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology, Technical University of Nova Scotia, B3J 2X4, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    S. J. Iverson

Authors
  1. H. N. Koopman
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  2. S. J. Iverson
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  3. D. E. Gaskin
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Communicated by L.C.-H. Wang

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Koopman, H.N., Iverson, S.J. & Gaskin, D.E. Stratification and age-related differences in blubber fatty acids of the male harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). J Comp Physiol B 165, 628–639 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301131

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