rdf-syntax-grammar
mods:
  schema location: http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
  title info:
    title: Fatty acid composition and distribution in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
  name:
    name part: Samuel, Asha Melina.
    role:
      role term: creator
  type of resource: text
  genre: bibliography
  origin info:
    place:
      place term: xx
    date issued: 2000
    issuance: monographic
  language:
    language term: eng
  physical description:
    form: print
    form: remote
    extent: xiv, 114 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
  abstract: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) blubber is heterogeneous, and divided into sub-epidermal, middle, and deep layers. This is consistent with other studies that have shown how odontocete blubber is variable in composition, and can be separated into strata visually, histologically, and biochemically. Fatty acid signature analysis has been used in determining dietary history of marine mammals. It is also an excellent tool for examining differences in fatty acid composition of blubber between seasons, genders, and layers at various sites along the body. Foraging ecology of cetaceans has not been studied extensively, and little information exists about their body composition. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in fatty acid composition exist between seasons, genders, and blubber layers along the body of bottlenose dolphins and to investigate the potential use of fatty acid signature analysis to discern diet of small cetaceans. Blubber samples were obtained from fresh-dead bottlenose dolphins along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. Twenty-two animals were sampled, including males, non-lactating females, and lactating females, from summer and winter seasons. Samples from nine different sites along the body were examined. Lipids were extracted from each sample, and fatty acid methyl esters analyzed using a gas-liquid chromatograph connected to a computerized integration system. Statistical analysis consisted of multivariate techniques, including classification and regression trees (CART). Seasonal, gender, and layer-related differences were present with varying degrees of significance. Season was the strongest separating variable for all samples, followed by gender, layer, surface, and finally body site. Season, gender, and layering effects have been well documented in other studies. These changes probably result from dietary factors, as well as selective fatty acid mobilization and utilization to accommodate blubber functions such as energy s…
  note: by Asha Melina Samuel.
  note: "Major subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences".
  note: Vita.
  note: Also available online.
  note: Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
  note: M.S. Texas A&M University 2000.
  note: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-83).
  subject:
    topic: Major wildlife and fisheries sciences
  identifier: https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2000-THESIS-S252
  related item:
    location:
      url: https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2000-THESIS-S252
  record info:
    record content source: TXA
    record creation date: 010907
    record change date: 20220103114415.0
    record identifier: in00001629732