The blubber adipocyte index: A nondestructive biomarker of adiposity in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

ABSTRACT: The ability to accurately evaluate the energetic health of wildlife is of critical importance, particularly under conditions of environmental change. Despite the relevance of this issue, currently there are no reliable, standardized, nonlethal measures to assess the energetic reserves of large, free-roaming marine mammals such as baleen whales. This study investigated the potential of adipocyte area analysis and further, a standardized adipocyte index (AI), to yield reliable information regarding humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) adiposity. Adipocyte area and AI, as ascertained by image analysis, showed a direct correlation with each other but only a weak correlation with the commonly used, but error prone, blubber lipid-percent measure. The relative power of the three respect

SUBMITTER: Castrillon J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5528216 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature