Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:21:42.723Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Digestibility of krill (Euphausia superba and Thysanoessa sp.) in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus)*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2007

P.-E. Mårtensson ,
E. S. Nordøy  and
A. S. Blix
P.-E. Mårtensson
Affiliation:
Department of Arctic Biology and Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
E. S. Nordøy
Affiliation:
Department of Arctic Biology and Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
A. S. Blix
Affiliation:
Department of Arctic Biology and Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Apparent digestible efficiency (% DE) was studied by use of dietary Mn as an inert marker, in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) which had been eating krill. Median % DE in minke whales (n 5) eating krill of the genus Thysanoessa sp. (energy density (ED) 23·8 kJ/g) was 93 (range 87–93). Median % DE in crabeater seals (n 6) eating krill of the species Euphausia superba (ED 20·8 kJ/g) was 84 (range 79–85), which is significantly lower than the % DE of krill in minke whales (P = 0·008). Since the chemical composition in E. superba and in Thysanoessa sp. is similar, it is suggested that the complex multi-stomached system of minke whales, which contains both chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14)-producing as well as several other types of bacteria, is superior to the single-stomached system of crabeater seals with regard to krill digestion. It is worth noting, however, that the % DE of krill in the crabeater seal is still very high.

Keywords

Apparent digestibility efficiencyMn inert marker techniqueMinke whaleCrabeater sealKrill
Type
Digestion of krill in whales and seals
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 72 , Issue 5 , November 1994 , pp. 713 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1994

References

REFERENCES

Clarke, A. (1980). The biochemical composition of krill, Euphuusiu superbu Dana, from South Georgia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 43, 221–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fadely, B. S., Worthy, G. A. J. & Costa, D. P. (1990). Assimilation efficiency of northern fur seals determined using dietary manganese. Journal of Wildlife Management 54, 246–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haug, T., Gjøsaeter, H., Lindstrøm, U. & Nilssen, K. T. (1993). Studies of minke whale Bulaenopteru acutorostrata ecology in the Northeast Atlantic: preliminary results from studies of diet and food availability during summer 1992. Paper SC/45/NA3 presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee.Google Scholar
Helm, R. C. (1984). Rate of digestion in three species of pinnipeds. Canadian Journal of Zoology 62, 1751–1756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jonsgård, Å. (1982). The food of minke whales (Balaenopteru acutorostrata) in northern North Atlantic waters. Reports of the International Whaling Commission 32, 259–262.Google Scholar
Kleiber, M. (1975). The Fire of Life Malabar, Florida: Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co. Inc.Google Scholar
Lavigne, D. M., Barchard, W., Innes, S. & Øritsland, N. A. (1982). Pinniped bioenergetics. In Mammals in the Seas. FAO Fisheries Series no. 5, Vol. 4, pp. 191–235. Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Laws, R. M. (1958). Growth rates and ages of crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophagus (Jacquinot & Pucheran). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 130, 275–288.Google Scholar
Lydersen, C., Angantyr, L. A., Wiig, Ø. & Øritsland, T. (1991). Feeding habits of Northeast Atlantic harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) along the summer ice edge of the Barents Sea. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48, 2180–2183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Markussen, N. H. (1993). Transit time of digesta in captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, 1071–1073.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mårtensson, P.-E., Nordoy, E. S. & Blix, A. S. (1994). Digestibility of crustaceans and capelin in harp seals (Phoca groenlandica). Marine Mammal Science 10, 325–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mathiesen, S. D., Aagnes, T. &Sølrmo, W. (1990). Microbial symbiotic digestion in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Paper SC / 42 / NHMi9 presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee.Google Scholar
Nordøy, E. S. & Blix, A. S. (1992). Diet of minke whales in the Northeastern Atlantic. Reports of the International Whaling Commission 42, 393–398.Google Scholar
Nordøy, E. S., Sørmo, W. & Blix, A. S. (1993). In vitro digestibility of different prey species of minke whales (Balaenopteru acutorostrata). British Journal of Nutrition 70, 485–489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ohsumi, S. (1979) Feeding habits of the minke whale in the Antarctic. Reports of the International Whaling Commission 29, 473–476.Google Scholar
Olsen, M. A., Nordøy, E. S., Blix, A. S., Mathiesen, S. D. (1994). Functional anatomy of the gastrointestinal system of Northeastern Atlantic minke whales (Bulaenopteru acurorostrata). Journal of Zoology (In the Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Øritsland, T. (1977). Food consumption of seals in the Antarctic pack ice. In Adaptations within Antarctic Ecosystems, pp. 749–768 [Llano, G. A., editor]. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.Google Scholar
Saether, S., Ellingsen, T. E. & Mohr, V. (1987). Proteolysis post mortem in north Atlantic krill. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 88B, 165–176.Google Scholar