A Seasonal Study of Body Condition and Water Turnover in a Free-Living Population of Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus Anatinus (Monotremata).

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Hulbert ◽  
TR Grant

Body condition was assessed in a population of free-living platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the Upper Shoalhaven River in summer (February) and winter (September). Total body fat was estimated by measurement of tritiated water space and tail volume was also measured. Carcass analysis of dead platypuses verified a negative correlation between percentage body fat and percentage body water. The major store of body fat is located in the tail. In the live polulation, adult platypuses showed little seasonal change in body fat. Juveniles are relatively fat in February (soon after their emergence from their burrows) but at the end of their first winter they have lost a considerable amount of body fat. Juvenile males seem to possess negligible body fat stores in September. Changes in relative tail volume showed similar changes to those of estimated body fat. Some platypuses were recaught, and for these water turnover was calculated to be very high, at about 480 ml daily.

Rangifer ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terje S. Larsen ◽  
Arnoldus Schytte Blix

<p>Total body water and water turnover were measured at different times throughout the year in 3 captive Norwegian reindeer, using a tritiated water dilution method (Holleman et al. 1982). Total body water (percent of body weight) increased during late autumn and winter, from 59.1 &plusmn; 1.5 % in October to 72.5 &plusmn; 2.0 % in April. Using the equatation by Pace and Rathbun (1945) for predicting total body fat (% fat = 100 - % water/0.732), this increase in total body water indicates a concomitant reduction in body fat, from a maximum value of 18.9 &plusmn; 2.6 % (of body weight) in October to a minimum of 0.9 &plusmn; 2.7 % in April. During summer, on the other hand, fat content increased at the expense of a reduced percentage of body water. Water turnover was low in winter (December - April), ranging between 30.8 &plusmn; 5.2and43.6 &plusmn; 13.5ml.d-'. kg-1, but increased nearly fourfold during summer (June-August) with a maximum of 117.7 &plusmn; 5.9 ml.d-1. kg-1 in August. Positive correlations between water turnover and food intake and between water turnover and ambient temperature were found, the latter probably resulting from an incidental correlation between food intake and ambient temperature.</p><p>Sesongmessige forandringer i totalt kroppsvann, kropps-sammensetning og vannomsetning hos reinsdyr.</p><p>Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Totalt kroppsvann og vannomsetning av vann ble m&aring;lt til forskjellige &aring;rstider i 3 norske reinsdyr ved hjelp av utvasking av tritiert vann (Holleman et al. 1982). Totalt kroppsvann (prosent av kroppsvekt) &oslash;kte utover h&oslash;sten og vinteren, fra 59.1 &plusmn; 1.5 % i oktober til 72.5 &plusmn; 2.0 % i april. Ved hjelp av en ligning som er gitt av Pace og Rathbun (1945) for beregning av totalt kroppsfett (% fett = 100 - % vann/0.732), fant en at denne &oslash;kningen i vanninnhold tilsvarte en samtidig reduksjon i fettinnhold, fra en maksimums-verdi p&aring; 18.9 &plusmn; 2.6 % av kroppsvekt i oktober til et minimum p&aring; 0.9 &plusmn; 2.7 % i april. Utover sommeren &oslash;kte derimot innholdet av fett p&aring; bekostning av vanninnholdet. Omsetningen av vann var lav vinterstid (desember - april), varierende mellom 30.8 &plusmn; 5.2 og 43.6 &plusmn; 13.5 ml.d-1.kg-1, men &oslash;kte nesten fire ganger i l&oslash;pet av sommeren (juni - august) til et maksimum p&aring; 117.7 &plusmn; 5.9 ml.d-1.kg-1 i august. Det ble funnet positive korrelasjoner mellom vannomsetning og forinntak og mellom vannomsetning og omgivelsestemperatur. Sistnevnte korrelasjon kan muligens skyldes en tilfeldig sammenheng mellom forinntak og omgivelsestemperatur.</p><p>Vuodenaikaiset muutokset poron ruumiin kokonaisvesim&aring;&aring;r&aring;ss&aring;, ruumiin koostumuksessa ja vesiaineenvaihdunnassa.</p><p>Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Ruumiin kokonaisvesima&aring;r&aring;&aring; ja vesiaineenvaihduntaa mitattiin eri vuodenaikoina 3 norjalaisella porolla k&aring;ytt&aring;m&aring;ll&aring; apuna tritioitua vetta (Holleman et al. 1982). Ruumiin kokonaisvesim&aring;ar&aring; (prosenttia ruumiinpainosta) lis&aring;antyi syksyll&aring; ja talvella lokakuun 59.1&plusmn;1.5%:sta 72.5&plusmn;2.0%:i huhtikuussa. K&aring;ytt&aring;m&aring;ll&aring; Pacen ja Rathbunin (1945) ruumiin kokonaisrasvapitoisuude laskukaavaa (rasva % = 100 - vesi %/0.732) huomattiin tam&aring;n vesim&aring;&aring;r&aring;n lisa&aring;ntymis johtuvan samanaikaisesta rasvapitoisuuden v&aring;henemisesta. Rasvapitoisuus laski lokakuun maksimiarvosta 18.9&plusmn;2.6% ruumiinpainosta huhtikuun minimiarvoon, joka oli 0.9&plusmn;2.7% ruumiinpainosta. Kes&aring;ll&aring; rasvapitoisuus lis&aring;antyi puolestaan vesipitoisuuden kustannuksella. Talvella j&aring;k&aring;l&aring;ravinnolla (joulu-huhtikuussa) veden kaytto vaihteli v&aring;lilla 30.8&plusmn;5.2 ja 43.6&plusmn;13.5 ml vrk-1kg-1 mutta se kohosi melkein nelinkertaisesti kesalla (kes&aring;-elokuussa) maksimiarvoonsa 117.7+5.9 ml vrk-1 kg-1 elokuussa. Veden k&aring;yton ja ravinnon oton seka veden k&aring;yton jaymp&aring;riston lampotilan v&aring;lilla oli positiivinen korrelaatio. Viimeksi mainittu korrelaatio voi johtua v&aring;liaikaisesta riippuvuudesta ravinnonoton ja ymp&aring;riston l&aring;mpotilan v&aring;lill&aring;.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabitha J. Hookey ◽  
Robert C. Backus ◽  
Allison M. Wara

AbstractMore than one-third of humans and companion dogs in Western societies are overweight or obese. In people, vitamin D deficiency is widespread and associated with obesity, a now recognised inflammatory state. Low vitamin D status occurs in dogs with inflammatory conditions, but its relationship with obesity has not been investigated. In otherwise healthy privately owned adult dogs of ideal body condition (control,n7) and dogs with overweight to obese body condition (treatment,n8), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and body composition as inferred from2H-labelled water dilution space were evaluated. Subsequently, the dogs were transitioned to a commercial canine therapeutic weight-loss diet; control dogs were fed to maintain body weight and treatment dogs were energy-restricted to achieve a safe weight-loss rate. Thereafter, serum 25(OH)D concentration was re-evaluated 8 weeks after diet transition, and at the study end, which was 6 months or when ideal body condition was achieved. At study end, body composition analysis was repeated. Initial body condition scores and percentage body fat were positively correlated (ρ = 0·891;P< 0·001). However, percentage body fat and serum 25(OH)D concentration were not significantly correlated. Final serum 25(OH)D concentrations were greater (P< 0·05) than initial concentrations for control and treatment groups, indicating a diet but not weight-loss effect on vitamin D status. These findings suggest that vitamin D status of dogs is not affected by obesity or loss of body fat with therapeutic weight reduction.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Nicol

Water turnover rates of Tasmania devils, Sarcophilus harrisii, were measured under standardized conditions by use of tritiated water. Total body water of lactating females was lower than in non- lactating animals, while water turnover rates per kilogram were not significantly different, due to a higher rate constant for lactating animals. Mean water turnover rates were considerably higher than predicted from other marsupial studies. Statistical analysis of data from 13 species of marsupial and 27 eutherian species showed habitat to have a far greater effect on standard water turnover rate than phylogeny.


1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. N. Chigaru ◽  
D. H. Holness

SUMMARYThe body composition of 18 each of Mashona, Afrikaner and Hereford heifers was measured at the beginning and after 16 and 32 weeks of the experiment. The heifers not slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment were fed a complete diet containing 132 g crude protein and 12·0 MJ metabolizable energy/kg dry matter. Before slaughter, the animals were deprived of food and water for 24 h. Each animal was infused with 1 mCi of tritiated water (TOH) in order to measure total body water (TBW) and to estimate body fat.The growth rate of the three breeds of heifers was similar despite differences in age and initial live weight. Both TBW and fat proportions, however, differed significantly (P < 0·01) between slaughter stages for each breed and between breeds at each slaughter stage. At the first, second and final slaughter stages the proportions of TBW were: 68·0, 59·4 and 54·5% for Mashona; 70·;5, 64·3 and 58·3% for Afrikaner and 65·3, 57·6 and 46·2% for Hereford heifers respectively. The corresponding proportions of body fat were: 10·2, 18·4 and 24·2% for Mashona; 6·6, 12·0 and 20·0% for Afrikaner and 13·7, 20·8 and 25·8% for Hereford heifers respectively.There was a close relation between empty body weight and live weight at slaughter which was not influenced by breed. Both TBW and fat were estimated more accurately when TOH space and live weight were used jointly. However, the slopes of the prediction equations for each breed were significantly different (P < 0·05) in the case of both total body water and fat. It was necessary to use separate equations for each breed in order to predict either body water or fat. The significance of these findings for the estimation of body fat in live cattle is discussed.


1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Teixeira ◽  
R. Delfa ◽  
F. Colomer-Rocher

ABSTRACTThe relationships between body fat depots and body condition score (BCS) were determined in 52 adult Rasa Aragonesa ewes aged 10 (s.d. 2) years and ranging in BCS from 1·5 to 4·5. BCS of each ewe was assessed by three people, the repeatability within individuals being 90% and between individuals 80%. The ewes were weighed before slaughter. After slaughter the omental, mesenteric, kidney and pelvic fat were separated and weighed. The fat of the left side of the carcass was separated into subcutaneous and intermuscular depots. The relationship between live weight and BCS was semilogarithmic and those between fat depots and BCS were logarithmic. Regression analysis was also used to describe the relationships between the various fat depots and BCS or live weight. Of the variation in total fat weight, proportionately 0·90 was accounted for by variations in BCS, while 0·84 was accounted for by variations in live weight. For individual fat depots proportionately 0·86 to 0·90 of the variation was accounted for by variation in BCS and 0·69 to 0·79 by variation in live weight. BCS was a better predictor than live weight of the weight of both total body fat and the individual fat depots.A curvilinear regression between BCS and live weight showed that the increases in live weight for a unit change in BCS was 7, 10, 12 and 16 kg for each one point increase in BCS from 1 to 5 respectively.The tail fat depot (tail fatness score) was assessed in the same ewes by score on a three-point scale. Of the variation in the weight of individual fat depots, proportionately 0·79 to 0·86 was accounted for by variation in tail fatness score. Thus the tail fatness score could be used as an additional method of assessing body condition in the Aragonesa breed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Dunshea ◽  
A. W. Bell ◽  
K. D. Chandler ◽  
T. E. Trigg

ABSTRACTA two-pool model of tritiated water kinetics was investigated as a means of partitioning total body water into empty body water and gut water in 17 lactating goats. Empty body water, gut water and total body water were of a similar magnitude to, and highly correlated with, a rapidly equilibrating tritiated water pool, a more slowly equilibrating pool and the sum of these two pools, respectively.Empty body fat was poorly correlated with both live weight and empty body weight (R2 = 0·42 and 0·51, respectively). However, there was a strong inverse relationship between the water and fat contents of the empty body. Consequently, empty body fat was accurately predicted by a multiple regression equation which included both empty body weight and empty body water as independent variables (R2 = 0·97). Substitution of these variables with estimates derived from tritiated water kinetics still resulted in a high correlation (R2 = 0·88). Tritiated water kinetics offered little improvement over live weight alone in the prediction of empty body protein, empty body ash or fat-free empty body.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1590-1594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Gauthier ◽  
Donald W. Thomas

We validated the use of 22Na and 3H for the measurement of food intake, total body water, and fat reserves in free-living passerines. The close correlation between sodium intake and blood sodium turnover (r2 = 0.98) and the narrow 95% confidence limits on the relationship (± 11% for Na consumption over 6.0 mmol) show that the 22Na technique may give precise estimates of food intake for individuals. The 3H technique does not provide precise measures of fat reserves in individuals because estimates of body fat have an error term ranging from 25 to 150%. However, it is sufficiently precise to allow the comparison of fat reserves between groups of birds. We provide a field test showing that adult Cliff Swallows have 60.3% lower fat reserves during a second breeding attempt compared with the first.


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Tierney ◽  
Mark Hindell ◽  
Mary-Anne Lea ◽  
Dominic Tollit

The total body water (TBW) and body condition of 86 female southern elephant seals was estimated from tritiated water (HTO) dilution space analysis. HTO blood samples were analysed using two distillation methods (direct serum counts and evaporative freeze capture) that yielded significantly different estimates. Evaporative freeze capture is recommended for use because it is faster, cheaper, and provides a more precise TBW estimate of dilution space. Estimates of TBW were then compared with those derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and morphometric models. There were significant, positive relationships between TBW and BIA variables, but the level of accuracy was inadequate for BIA to be more useful than the other methods trialled. Morphometric models accurately estimated TBW (kg). Models developed from surface area (SA) (TBW = [SA * 82.58] – 86.94) and from a combination of mass (M), length (L), and girth (G) (TBW = [(M * 0.72) + (L * 5.49) + (G * 134.94) + 164.36)] provided the most accurate TBW estimates. In contrast, condition indices did not give accurate or reliable estimates of relative body condition.


2022 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faezeh Maleklou ◽  
Azadeh Hakakzadeh ◽  
Farzin Halabchi ◽  
Mastaneh Rajabian Tabesh ◽  
Zahra Alizadeh

Background: Obesity and overweight are among serious global epidemics that significantly threaten human health, especially among women. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the concurrent effects of 6-week caffeine supplementation with moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on weight and body fat among overweight women. Methods: Thirty overweight females (age: 36.47 ± 6.48 years; BMI: 27.61 ± 1.54 kg/m2; mean ± SD) with a sedentary lifestyle were recruited to the study. The participants were randomly allocated to the experimental group, EC (exercise + caffeine) group, who took 100 milligrams of caffeine of the “API” brand supplement 30 minutes before exercise training (n = 15) or control group, EP (exercise + placebo) (n = 15). All participants performed moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with an intensity of 40 to 60% of heart rate reserve based on the individual's exercise test for 30 minutes, three days a week for six weeks. Measurements, including the percentage of body fat, waist circumference, and skinfold (suprailiac, abdominal), were done two times, at baseline and after six weeks of exercising. Results: There were no significant differences between control and experimental groups related to weight (P = 0.22), percentage body fat (P = 0.88), and other measurements after six weeks. Conclusions: 6 weeks of caffeine supplementation combined with moderate-intensity aerobic exercise without dietary interventions couldn’t make a significant reduction in weight and central or total body fat among overweight women.


1986 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. El-Hadi

SUMMARYChanges in body weight and body temperature were observed in Sudanese desert sheep and goats, which had been subjected to the summer sun (20 °C min. to 42 °C max.), given water normally and then deprived of water for 3 days. Tritiated water was also used to measure total body water and water turnover in these animals together with measurements of plasma and extracellular space, intracellular fluid volume and blood osmolality. The body weight and the size of the fluid compartments decreased in the two species at varying degrees associated with haemoconcentration. The extent of some changes was more marked in sheep than in goats, suggesting better adaptation of the former species to desert life.


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