scholarly journals Seasonal patterns in nutritional condition of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the southern Northwest Territories and northeastern British Columbia, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (10) ◽  
pp. 845-858
Author(s):  
John G. Cook ◽  
Allicia P. Kelly ◽  
Rachel C. Cook ◽  
Brad Culling ◽  
Diane Culling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Nutritional Condition ◽  
Nutritional Influences ◽  
Fat Body Mass

Evaluating nutritional condition provides insights of nutritional influences on wildlife populations. We sampled three measures of condition — body fat, body mass, and loin thickness — of adult female caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in boreal settings in the Northwest Territories (NT), Canada, in December and March, 2016–2018, and in mountain and boreal settings in British Columbia (BC), Canada, in December and February, 2014–2015. We evaluated the effect of calf-rearing on condition in December, compared influences of summer–autumn versus winter on condition over winter, and developed an annual profile of nutritional condition with estimates from caribou dying in summer. Mean December body fat was 8.4% in females with calves and 11.4% in females without calves, demonstrating the influence of lactation on condition. Over winter, nutritional condition did not decline in northeastern BC and it declined slightly in NT: body fat by 0.55 percentage points, mass by 2.8 kg, and loin thickness did not change. Body fat peaked in December, changed little over winter, but declined to a minimum by early summer, temporally coinciding with elevated rates of adult female mortality. Consistent with those of other ungulate studies worldwide, our findings suggest a need to focus on nutritional limitations operating in late spring through early autumn.

Multiple nutritional currencies shape pregnancy in a large herbivore

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 307-315
Author(s):  
J.R. Newby ◽  
N.J. DeCesare
Keyword(s):  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Reproductive Consequences ◽  
Fat Body Mass

Nutritional condition embodies environmental conditions experienced by animals with survival and reproductive consequences. Body fat is often associated with ungulate fecundity; however, other nutritional currencies may limit fecundity. Using data from 129 moose (Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758)) monitored over 429 moose-years, we examined the limiting role of multiple nutritional currencies on pregnancy rates while concurrently assessing the influence of age and prior reproduction. Females tended to be pregnant in successive years, suggesting differences in individual or habitat quality. However, probability of pregnancy declined with survival of calves from prior litters, indicating a reproductive cost to rearing offspring. Pregnancy was positively associated with serum iron (Fe), body fat, body mass, and serum protein. The best model predicting pregnancy included serum Fe, body fat, and age class, with serum Fe being the strongest single predictor. Moose with Fe concentrations considered deficient in cattle (Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758) had pregnancy rates of 33%–35%, whereas 89%–91% of individuals with sufficient Fe were pregnant. We subsequently evaluated hypotheses concerning factors potentially limiting Fe concentrations, including Fe-deficient diet, chronic infection, parasitism, and malnutrition. The best supported hypothesis was energy and protein malnutrition constrained Fe stores. We conclude that subclinical anemia due to nutritional constraints can limit or indicate limits in moose fecundity.

scholarly journals Differences in Body Fat, Body Mass Index, and Physical Performance of Specific Field Tests in 10-to-12-Year-Old School-Aged Team Handball Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 9022
Author(s):  
Souhail Hermassi ◽  
Maha Sellami ◽  
Georg Fieseler ◽  
El Ghali Bouhafs ◽  
Lawrence D. Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Anthropometric Parameter ◽  
Fat Body Mass ◽  
Medicine Ball

This study aimed to compare 10-to-12-year-old Qatari male athletes and assess body fat, body mass index, and physical fitness, as well as the difference of these measures between ages. Thirty-five youth handball players volunteered for the investigation and were divided into three groups: 12-year-old players (U12; n = 12), 11-year-old players (U11; n = 11), 10-year-old players (U10; n = 12). Anthropometry was assessed by body mass, body fat percentage (%BF), and body mass index (BMI). Measurements included the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), jumping ability (squat and countermovement jumps (SJ and CMJ, respectively)), and sprint tests (10 and 15 m). The power of the upper extremity was measured by a 2-kg overhead medicine ball throw for distance. Except for %BF (p = 0.387) and BMI (p = 0.070), all anthropometric and demographic parameters were different between age groups. The largest differences were found for body mass (p = 0.007) and body height (p = 0.008). Regarding fitness parameters, only the medicine ball throw (p = 0.022) was different between age groups (U10 vs. U12: p = 0.009; U11 vs. U12: p = 0.048). There was no difference between groups for jumping (CMJ: p = 0.586; SJ: p = 0.377), sprinting (10 m: p = 0.211; 15 m: p = 0.194) and Yo-Yo IR1 (p = 0.228). Body fat was the anthropometric parameter with the strongest relationship with physical performance in that lower body fat was related to superior jumping performance and sprint performance. In conclusion, except for %BF and BMI, all anthropometric parameters were different between U10, U11, and U12 handball players. For physical parameters, jumping, sprinting, and endurance performance were not different between age groups. From a practical perspective, coaches can use these findings as reference for the evaluation of their school-aged handball players, as well as for establishing performance goals.

Seasonal changes in body composition of mature female caribou and calves (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) on an arctic island with limited winter resources

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1149-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Z. Adamczewski ◽  
C. C. Gates ◽  
R. J. Hudson ◽  
M. A. Price
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Total Body Weight ◽  
Mature Female ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Groenlandicus

Twelve collections of mature female caribou and calves (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) were conducted between June 1982 and June 1984 on Coats Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, to study seasonal changes in body composition in this winter mortality limited population. Mature females depleted reserves of dissectible fat and muscle considerably during both winters of the study, particularly the second, when nearly all dissectible fat and 32% of estimated fall muscle mass were lost. Recovery of fat and muscle was rapid during the two summers, because of good quality forage and little environmental disturbance. Lactation appeared to slow fattening in early summer 1983, but by October females achieved fatness similar to that in 1982, when a majority of females in summer and fall were nonlactating. Low rumen fill and consistently high fat and muscle levels in fall 1982 and 1983 suggested that mature females then approached "set points" in body fat and muscle content. Calves grew rapidly in summer; most of this growth was lean tissue, and their losses of body fat and muscle were severe during winter. Mature females and calves increased rumen fill substantially over winter to compensate for highly fibrous food. This made total body weight a much poorer predictor of condition than carcass weight. The liver, kidneys, and empty rumen were heaviest in summer in response to high forage quality. Poor condition of females was associated with light fetuses in May 1984.

scholarly journals Evaluating indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus): which are the most valuable and why?

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 596-613
Author(s):  
Rachel C. Cook ◽  
John A. Crouse ◽  
John G. Cook ◽  
Thomas R. Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Body Fat ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Nutritional Condition ◽  
Marrow Fat ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Kidney Fat ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Gross Energy

Body composition studies are critical for evaluating the accuracy of nutritional condition indices for predicting body components. We evaluated >40 indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) using 29 female caribou captured from three populations in Alaska (USA) that ranged in condition from 2.3% to 11.2% ingesta-free body fat (IFBF) and 6 captive female caribou that ranged in condition from 8.1% to 26.0% IFBF. Estimates of body fat, protein, and gross energy were regressed against each index of nutritional condition. Generally, indices with linear or slightly curvilinear relations to body fat and those based on multiple fat depots were the most accurate in predicting nutritional condition and the most useful over the full range of nutritional condition. A scaledLIVINDEX (a combination of subcutaneous fat thickness and a condition score), CONINDEX (a combination of kidney fat and marrow fat), and a subset of the Kistner score (pericardium and kidneys only) had the strongest relationship with body fat (r2 > 0.86) and were useful over the entire range of nutritional condition. If used properly and with adequate training, indices of nutritional condition can be a critical tool for understanding the severity and seasonality of nutritional limitations in wild caribou populations.

scholarly journals The IMAGINE Intervention: Impacting Physical Activity, Body Fat, Body Mass Index, and Dietary Inflammatory Index

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Bernhart ◽  
Gabrielle M. Turner-McGrievy ◽  
Michael D. Wirth ◽  
Nitin Shivappa ◽  
James R. Hébert
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Dietary Inflammatory Index ◽  
Inflammatory Index ◽  
Fat Body Mass
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