摘要:

AbstractThe sea otter is associated with a cold, marine habitat, has no insulating fat layer, and relies on its fur layer for insulation. Soiled pelage provides inadequate insulation and can lead to hypothermia and death. Information on sea otter pelage, the surface and bound lipids found in the pelage, and histology of the integument is thus relevant to the development of rehabilitation and management techniques for sea otters soiled with oil. We present detailed data on the sea otter pelage and integument, including hair bundle density (737–2,465 bundles per cm2), hair density per bundle (19–91.1), total hair density (26,413–164,662 hairs per cm2), guardhair length (8.2–26.9 mm), underfur length (4.6–15.8 mm), guardhair diameter (44.0–106.0 μ), underfur diameter (7.6–11.9 μ), angle of hair with respect to the skin (61.9°‐ 84.3°) and structure of individual hairs as seen with a scanning electron microscope. The hydrocarbon squalene was found to be the major component of the lipids associated with the pelage. Various layers of skin from eight sites on a single animal are described histologically. With the exception of density of the hair coat, sea otter integument is similar to that of

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00120.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAntibodies against phocine distemper virus were found in liver and serum specimens of harp seals from the Barents Sea and north of Jan Mayen (West Ice) in 1987 and 1989. By immunoperoxidase testing, antibodies against phocine distemper virus could be demonstrated in 34 of 74 liver specimens (46%) from 1987 and in 44 of 126 liver specimens (35%) from 1989. The prevalence of neutralizing serum antibodies against phocine distemper virus was found to be 98% in 1989. Both findings clearly demonstrate the presence of a widespread infection with phocine distemper virus or a closely related virus in harp seals. The significance of these findings to the recent outbreak of phocine distemper virus infection in harbor seals in Northwestern Europe is discussed and it is concluded that there may be an epizootiological link between this outbreak and the large migration of harp seals in 1987.

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00121.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAlthough the distribution and relative abundance of bowhead whales varied annually within the fall whaling area near Barrow, Alaska, the distance of whales from shore was not significantly different among years 1982‐1989 (ANOVA,F= 0.5,P>0.5). The minimum detectable distance for the ANOVA was 12 km (α= 0.05, β= 0.1). Annual median distance of random bowhead sightings from shore ranged from 23 to 39 km, with an eight‐year median of 32 km. Highest annual bowhead sighting rates were positively associated with the proportion of feeding whales, indicating that whale feeding opportunities may affect the availability of whales within hunting range each

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00122.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis study describes a method for extracting post‐canine or incisor teeth from live antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) and southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) respectively and their use to determine age in a field situation. Dental elevators were used to loosen the teeth from the alveolus and periodental ligament. Most teeth were removed within l‐2 min and a total of 214 and 81 teeth were collected by this method from antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals respectively. No seal recaptured at intervals up to a year after a tooth was extracted showed signs of infection or distress related to removal of the tooth. Teeth were thin‐sectioned for the purpose of aging. In both species cementum growth layer groups were a more satisfactory indicator of age than dentinal growth layer groups. Estimates of age from cementum growth layers were confirmed for Antarctic fur seals using seals which had been tagged as pups up to 16 yr before sam

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00123.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTwo methods for estimating the mean date of birth from daily counts of northern fur seal pups (Callorhinus ursinus) are presented and applied to data collected on the Pribilof Islands in 1951, 1962, 1963 and 1983. The mean date of birth over the four years was July 9. Reproduction is highly synchronized and consistent from one year to the next. Pupping occurs over a five week period with over 50% of the pups being born during the first two weeks of July.

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00124.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA viscous ocular secretion streams from the eyes of bottlenose dolphins,Tursiops truncatuss, removed from the water. The chemical composition and environmentally adaptive implications of this substance continue to perplex curators and scientists. Secretions from three dolphins were examined for deviations from literature values for normal human and terrestrial mammalian tear film components. Osmolality (x̄= 470 mOsm/kg), pH (x̄= 8.44) and glucose (x̄= 26.58 mg/100 ml) were significantly greater than human and terrestrial mammalian tear film values; while lysozyme (x̄= 0.005 mg/ml) and total cholesterol (x̄= 0.17 μg/μ1) were significantly less. Refractive index, sodium ion concentration, and potassium tear to plasma ratios in the dolphin ocular secretion did not deviate significantly from human or terrestrial mammalian tears. Electrophoresis of dolphin tears yielded four major protein bands (probably lactoferrin, serum albumin, teat specific prealbumin, and lysozyme) and high molecular weight glycoproteins similar to human tears. The chemical composition of theT. truncatusocular secretion suggests that the circumorbital conjunctival gland may be analogous (relative to refractive index, electrolytes, and component protein) to the terrestrial lachrymal gland. At the functional level theT. truncatusocular secretion may reduce hydrodynamic resistance on the cornea and protect it from bacterial in

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00125.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractSwim velocities at 15‐sec intervals and maximum depth per dive were recorded by microprocessor units on two “mixed diver” adult female northern fur seals during summer foraging trips. These records allowed comparison of swim velocities of deep (>75 m) and shallow (<75 m) dives.Deep dives averaged 120 m depth and 3 min duration; shallow dives averaged 30 m and 1.2 min. Mean swim velocities on deep dives were 1.8 and 1.5 m/sec for the two animals; mean swim velocities on shallow dives were 1.5 and 1.2 m/sec. The number of minutes per hour spent diving during the deep and shallow dive patterns were 11 and 27 min, respectively.Swim velocity, and hence, relative metabolic rate, did not account for the differences in dive durations between deep and shallow dives. The long surface durations associated with deep dives, and estimates of metabolic rates for the observed swim velocities, suggest that deep dives involve significant anaerobic metab

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00126.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00127.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00128.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0824-0469    

DOI:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1992.tb00129.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY