Evaluating morphometric and metabolic markers of body condition in a small cetacean, the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena )

Ecology and Evolution
Joanna L KershawAilsa J Hall

Abstract

Mammalian body condition is an important individual fitness metric as it affects both survival and reproductive success. The ability to accurately measure condition has key implications for predicting individual and population health, and therefore monitoring the population-level effects of changing environments. No consensus currently exists on the best measure to quantitatively estimate body condition in many species, including cetaceans. Here, two measures of body condition were investigated in the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). First, the most informative morphometric body condition index was identified. The mass/length2 ratio was the most appropriate morphometric index of 10 indices tested, explaining 50% of the variation in condition in stranded, male porpoises with different causes of death and across age classes (n = 291). Mass/length2 was then used to evaluate a second measure, blubber cortisol concentration, as a metabolic condition marker. Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid hormone involved in the regulation of lipolysis and overall energy balance in mammals, and concentrations could provide information on physiological state. Blubber cortisol concentrations did not significantly vary around the girth (n = 20)...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 27, 2018·Conservation Physiology·Joanna L KershawAilsa J Hall
Jul 2, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Juliana Castrillon, Susan Bengtson Nash
Nov 17, 2019·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Kelly J RobinsonVincent M Janik
Jun 1, 2018·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Cory D ChampagneDorian S Houser
Oct 28, 2019·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Thomas M GalliganLori H Schwacke
Aug 24, 2021·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Greta Dalle LucheSusan Bengtson Nash

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
biopsy
biopsies
ELISA

Software Mentioned

R Core Development Team
heplots
MuMIn
GLMM
R
Dredge
R package nlstools
Rcmdr R
R package lme4

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