Population structure and changes in body mass and composition of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) wintering in Edmonton, Alberta

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2275-2281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona M. Pawlina ◽  
David A. Boag ◽  
Frank E. Robinson

The population structure and changes in body mass and body composition of mallards wintering on the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, were investigated from November 20, 1989 to March 15, 1990. The age composition of the population was biased in favor of juveniles (84%) and in favor of males (71%), possibly because of differential emigration at the onset of winter. Ducks in the wild population lost 22–30% of their live mass over winter. On average, males lost 75–76% of body lipids and 24–29% of proteins. Females lost between 66 and 92% of body lipids and between 18 and 23% of proteins. These losses suggested that mallards wintering in Edmonton in 1989–1990 were insufficiently prepared to meet the energy demands of spring migration and reproduction. Moreover, neither sex was able to maintain the level of protein intake needed to meet the protein costs of molt.

Author(s):  
Alice G. Pearson ◽  
Lee Alexander ◽  
Oliver C. Witard ◽  
Thomas E. Coughlin ◽  
Kevin D. Tipton ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Increasing protein intake during energy restriction (ER) attenuates lean body mass (LBM) loss in trained males. However, whether this relationship exists in trained females is unknown. This study examined the impact of higher compared to lower protein intakes (35% versus 15% of energy intake) on body composition in trained females during 2 weeks of severe ER. Methods Eighteen well-trained females completed a 1-week energy balanced diet (HD100), followed by a 2-week hypoenergetic (40% ER) diet (HD60). During HD60, participants consumed either a high protein (HP; 35% protein, 15% fat) or lower protein (CON; 15% protein, 35% fat) diet. Body composition, peak power, leg strength, sprint time, and anaerobic endurance were assessed at baseline, pre-HD60, and post-HD60. Results Absolute protein intake was reduced during HD60 in the CON group (from 1.6 to 0.9 g·d·kgBM−1) and maintained in the HP group (~ 1.7 g·d·kgBM−1). CON and HP groups decreased body mass equally during HD60 (− 1.0 ± 1.1 kg; p = 0.026 and − 1.1 ± 0.7 kg; p = 0.002, respectively) and maintained LBM. There were no interactions between time point and dietary condition on exercise performance. Conclusion The preservation of LBM during HD60, irrespective of whether absolute protein intake is maintained or reduced, contrasts with findings in trained males. In trained females, the relationship between absolute protein intake and LBM change during ER warrants further investigation. Future recommendations for protein intake during ER should be expressed relative to body mass, not total energy intake, in trained females.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3626
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jungert ◽  
Gerrit Eichner ◽  
Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold

This prospective study investigates age-dependent changes in anthropometric data and body composition over a period of two decades in consideration of physical activity and diet in community-dwelling subjects ≥60 years. Overall, 401 subjects with median follow-up time of 12 years were examined. Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were analyzed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical activity was assessed via a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was examined by 3-day dietary records. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the influence of age, sex, physical activity and energy/protein intake on anthropometric data and body composition by considering year of entry, use of diuretics and diagnosis of selected diseases. At baseline, median values for daily energy and protein intakes were 8.5 megajoule and 81 g and physical activity index was 1.7. After adjusting for covariates, advancing age was associated with parabolic changes indicating overall changes from age 60 to 90 years in women and men in body mass: −4.7 kg, −5.0 kg; body mass index: +0.04 kg/m2, −0.33 kg/m2; absolute FFM: −2.8 kg, −3.5 kg; absolute FM: −1.8 kg, −1.2 kg and waist circumference: +16 cm, +12 cm, respectively. No age-dependent changes were found for upper arm circumference and relative (%) FFM. Dietary and lifestyle factors were not associated with changes in anthropometric or body composition parameters. In summary, the results indicate non-linear age-dependent changes in anthropometric data and body composition, which are largely unaffected by the degree of habitual physical activity and dietary protein intake in well-nourished community-dwelling subjects.


The Auk ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Austin ◽  
Leigh H. Fredrickson

Abstract Changes in body and organ mass and body composition of postbreeding female Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) were investigated in the prairie-pothole region of southwestern Manitoba. Body mass was lowest during the wing molt and peaked during the migratory period. Most digestive organs gradually increased in mass through the postbreeding season. Lipid reserves remained relatively constant from the preflightless through the postflightless periods (x̄ = 43 g). The marked increase in lipids in the migratory period (x̄ = 183 g, P < 0.05) corresponded with premigratory hyperphagia. Time spent feeding explained 87% of the variation in lipid levels during the postbreeding season. Protein reserves declined with the onset of wing molt (P < 0.001) and increased during the postflightless period (P < 0.05). Breast muscle mass followed a similar pattern and was strongly correlated with molt intensity (r = 0.799, P < 0.001). Protein reserves, in particular the breast muscles, provide at least part of the protein required for feather production. Low body mass and lipid reserves during molt may not indicate energetic or nutritional stress but, alternatively, may be part of a postbreeding strategy to minimize energy demands and to reduce the length of the flightless period.


Author(s):  
Elaine J. Fraser ◽  
Lauren A. Harrington ◽  
David W. Macdonald ◽  
Xavier Lambin

American mink, native to North America, have been transported around the world for fur farming – inevitably some individuals escaped, and they now occur in the wild across Eurasia and in South America, where they have had devastating impacts on native prey and competitors. This chapter gives an overview of a research project focusing on mink management in the north of Scotland, UK. It assesses, first, how mink have spread across Scotland, and, specifically, to what extent habitat suitability and food availability has influenced the current distribution of mink. It then considers how we might use knowledge of population structure across the landscape to target control efforts, and, finally, whether volunteers can play a useful role in mink control in this area. The chapter is concluded with a discussion of what we might learn from this Scottish case study with respect to the wider issue of invasive American mink elsewhere.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Roth ◽  
Lukas Rettenmaier ◽  
Michael Behringer

Background: It is often advised to ensure a high-protein intake during energy-restricted diets. However, it is unclear whether a high-protein intake is able to maintain muscle mass and contractility in the absence of resistance training.Materials and Methods: After 1 week of body mass maintenance (45 kcal/kg), 28 male college students not performing resistance training were randomized to either the energy-restricted (ER, 30 kcal/kg, n = 14) or the eucaloric control group (CG, 45 kcal/kg, n = 14) for 6 weeks. Both groups had their protein intake matched at 2.8 g/kg fat-free-mass and continued their habitual training throughout the study. Body composition was assessed weekly using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Contractile properties of the m. rectus femoris were examined with Tensiomyography and MyotonPRO at weeks 1, 3, and 5 along with sleep (PSQI) and mood (POMS).Results: The ER group revealed greater reductions in body mass (Δ −3.22 kg vs. Δ 1.90 kg, p &lt; 0.001, partial η2 = 0.360), lean body mass (Δ −1.49 kg vs. Δ 0.68 kg, p &lt; 0.001, partial η2 = 0.152), body cell mass (Δ −0.85 kg vs. Δ 0.59 kg, p &lt; 0.001, partial η2 = 0.181), intracellular water (Δ −0.58 l vs. Δ 0.55 l, p &lt; 0.001, partial η2 = 0.445) and body fat percentage (Δ −1.74% vs. Δ 1.22%, p &lt; 0.001, partial η2 = 433) compared to the CG. Contractile properties, sleep onset, sleep duration as well as depression, fatigue and hostility did not change (p &gt; 0.05). The PSQI score (Δ −1.43 vs. Δ −0.64, p = 0.006, partial η2 = 0.176) and vigor (Δ −2.79 vs. Δ −4.71, p = 0.040, partial η2 = 0.116) decreased significantly in the ER group and the CG, respectively.Discussion: The present data show that a high-protein intake alone was not able to prevent lean mass loss associated with a 6-week moderate energy restriction in college students. Notably, it is unknown whether protein intake at 2.8 g/kg fat-free-mass prevented larger decreases in lean body mass. Muscle contractility was not negatively altered by this form of energy restriction. Sleep quality improved in both groups. Whether these advantages are due to the high-protein intake cannot be clarified and warrants further study. Although vigor was negatively affected in both groups, other mood parameters did not change.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Masoome Piri Damaghi ◽  
Atieh Mirzababaei ◽  
Sajjad Moradi ◽  
Elnaz Daneshzad ◽  
Atefeh Tavakoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Essential amino acids (EAAs) promote the process of regulating muscle synthesis. Thus, whey protein that contains higher amounts of EAA can have a considerable effect on modifying muscle synthesis. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effect of soy and whey protein supplementation on body composition. Thus, we sought to perform a meta-analysis of published Randomized Clinical Trials that examined the effect of whey protein supplementation and soy protein supplementation on body composition (lean body mass, fat mass, body mass and body fat percentage) in adults. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, up to August 2020, for all relevant published articles assessing soy protein supplementation and whey protein supplementation on body composition parameters. We included all Randomized Clinical Trials that investigated the effect of whey protein supplementation and soy protein supplementation on body composition in adults. Pooled means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analysis was applied to discern possible sources of heterogeneity. Results: After excluding non-relevant articles, 10 studies, with 596 participants, remained in this study. We found a significant increase in lean body mass after whey protein supplementation weighted mean difference (WMD: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.67. P= 0.019). Subgroup analysis, for whey protein, indicated that there was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals concomitant to exercise (WMD: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.47, 2.00; P= 0.001). There was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals who received 12 or less weeks of whey protein (WMD: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.63; P<0.0001). We observed no significant change between whey protein supplementation and body mass, fat mass, and body fat percentage. We found no significant change between soy protein supplementation and lean body mass, body mass, fat mass, and body fat percentage. Subgroup analysis for soy protein indicated there was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals who supplemented for 12 or less weeks with soy protein (WMD: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.89; P< 0.0001). Conclusion: Whey protein supplementation significantly improved body composition via increases in lean body mass, without influencing fat mass, body mass, and body fat percentage.


Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 1863-1873 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Slate ◽  
P M Visscher ◽  
S MacGregor ◽  
D Stevens ◽  
M L Tate ◽  
...  

Abstract Recent empirical evidence indicates that although fitness and fitness components tend to have low heritability in natural populations, they may nonetheless have relatively large components of additive genetic variance. The molecular basis of additive genetic variation has been investigated in model organisms but never in the wild. In this article we describe an attempt to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for birth weight (a trait positively associated with overall fitness) in an unmanipulated, wild population of red deer (Cervus elaphus). Two approaches were used: interval mapping by linear regression within half-sib families and a variance components analysis of a six-generation pedigree of &gt;350 animals. Evidence for segregating QTL was found on three linkage groups, one of which was significant at the genome-wide suggestive linkage threshold. To our knowledge this is the first time that a QTL for any trait has been mapped in a wild mammal population. It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigations of the genetic architecture of fitness traits in the wild.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
Wojciech Rusek ◽  
Joanna Baran ◽  
Justyna Leszczak ◽  
Marzena Adamczyk ◽  
Rafał Baran ◽  
...  

The main goal of our study was to determine how the age of children, puberty and anthropometric parameters affect the formation of body composition and faulty body posture development in children. The secondary goal was to determine in which body segments abnormalities most often occur and how gender differentiates the occurrence of adverse changes in children’s body posture and body composition during puberty. The study group consisted of 464 schoolchildren aged from 6–16. Body posture was assessed with the Zebris system. The composition of the body mass was tested with Tanita MC 780 MA body mass analyzer and the body height was measured using a portable stadiometer PORTSTAND 210. The participants were further divided due to the age of puberty. Tanner division was adopted. The cut-off age for girls is ≥10 years and for boys it is ≥12 years. The analyses applied descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation, stepwise regression analysis and the t-test. The accepted level of significance was p < 0.05. The pelvic obliquity was lower in older children (beta = −0.15). We also see that age played a significant role in the difference in the height of the right pelvis (beta = −0.28), and the difference in the height of the right shoulder (beta = 0.23). Regression analysis showed that the content of adipose tissue (FAT%) increased with body mass index (BMI) and decreased with increasing weight, age, and height. Moreover, the FAT% was lower in boys than in girls (beta negative equal to −0.39). It turned out that older children (puberty), had greater asymmetry in the right shoulder blade (p < 0.001) and right shoulder (p = 0.003). On the other hand, younger children (who were still before puberty) had greater anomalies in the left trunk inclination (p = 0.048) as well as in the pelvic obliquity (p = 0.008). Girls in puberty were characterized by greater asymmetry on the right side, including the shoulders (p = 0.001), the scapula (p = 0.001) and the pelvis (p < 0.001). In boys, the problem related only to the asymmetry of the shoulder blades (p < 0.001). Girls were characterized by a greater increase in adipose tissue and boys by muscle tissue. Significant differences also appeared in the body posture of the examined children. Greater asymmetry within scapulas and shoulders were seen in children during puberty. Therefore, a growing child should be closely monitored to protect them from the adverse consequences of poor posture or excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the body.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SMM Maldonado-Martin ◽  
PC Corres ◽  
AMAB Martinezaguirre-Betolaza ◽  
BJI Jurio-Iriarte ◽  
MTE Tous-Espelosin ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): University of the Basque Country OnBehalf GIKAFIT PURPOSES. To analyse the change on leptin, body composition, blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and some biochemical parameters in physically inactive women and men with primary hypertension (HTN) and obesity, and to evaluate the potential sex differences in the change after intervention. METHODS. Participants (n = 37 women, n= 40 men, 52.9 ± 6.9 yrs) from the EXERDIET-HTA study were randomized into attention control group (physical activity recommendations) or one of three supervised aerobic exercise groups [two days/week: high-volume (HV) with 45 min of moderate-intensity continuous training, HV and high-intensity interval training (HV-HIIT), and low volume-HIIT (LV-HIIT, 20 min)]. All participants received the same hypocaloric diet. All variables were assessed pre and post intervention (16 weeks). 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring was used to analyze systolic and diastolic BP. A cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). RESULTS. Following the intervention, there were increments (P &lt; 0.01) in CRF by VO2peak (Women, W = 21.1 ± 3.7 vs. 24.6 ± 4.4 mL·kg-1·min-1, Men, M = 26.3 ± 6.0 vs. 33.1 ± 10.2 mL·kg-1·min-1) and decreases (P &lt; 0.05) in leptin (W = 49.5 ± 23.0 vs. 41.8 ± 19.9 ng/mL, M = 20.5 ± 14.8 vs. 12.9 ± 18.6 ng/mL), body mass (W = 84.7 ± 12.1 vs. 80.3 ± 11.5 kg, M = 97.9 ± 14.4 vs. 91.5 ± 13.3 kg), waist perimeter (W = 97.3 ± 10.7 vs. 94.3 ± 10.9 cm, M = 107.9 ± 8.7 vs. 101.5 ± 7.9 cm), fat mass (W = 42.3 ± 5.1 vs. 38.6 ± 8.4 %, M = 31.2 ± 5.0 vs. 28.0 ± 4.4 %), systolic BP (M = 136.5 ± 12.1 vs. 129.3 ± 12.5 mmHg), diastolic BP (W = 76.2 ± 8.9 vs. 74.1 ± 8.7 mmHg, M = 79.3 ± 7.2 vs. 75.0 ± 8.2 mmHg), total cholesterol (M = 216.1 ± 44.5 vs. 196.1 ± 35.0 mg/dL), insulin (W = 13.4 ± 7.9 vs. 9.4 ± 4.2 mU/L) values. There were significant between-sex differences in body mass (W=-5.2%, M=-6.5%, effect size, ES = 0.073), waist circumference (W=-3.1%, M=-5.9%, ES = 0.114), and VO2peak (W = 14.2%, M = 20.5%, ES = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS. Aerobic exercise along with hypocaloric diet is an effective non-pharmacological tool to induce beneficial changes in women and men in BP and leptin as a mediator of obesity-induced HTN, and other regulatory mechanisms such as body composition, CRF and biochemical profile. The found sex-related differences could confirm the need of individual non-pharmacological strategies.


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