Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups ingest snow and seawater during their post-weaning fast.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of exogenous water intake (snow/seawater) in hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups during their post-weaning fast. In this study, five hooded seal pups had ad lib access to snow and seawater for the first 12 and last 21 days of their post-weaning fast, respectively. Total body water and water flux were determined during both exposure periods by use of the tritiated water method. Blood samples were collected to monitor changes in hematocrit, plasma urea and plasma osmolality. Body mass loss was on average 0.36 kg day^-1. Average total body water changed from 15.7 to 11.4 L, while total water influx changed from 15 to 18 mL day^-1 kg^-1 during snow and seawater exposure, respectively. Of this influx an av

SUBMITTER: Schots PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5364953 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature