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Possible effects of pollock and herring on the growth and reproductive success of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): insights from feeding experiments using an alternative animal model, Rattus norvegicus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Carolyn P. Donnelly ,
A. W. Trites  and
D. D. Kitts
Carolyn P. Donnelly
Affiliation:
Marine Mammal Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
A. W. Trites*
Affiliation:
Marine Mammal Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Room 18, Hut B-3, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
D. D. Kitts
Affiliation:
Food Nutrition and Health, The University of British Columbia, 6650 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
*
*Corresponding Author: Dr Andrew W. Trites, fax +1 604 822 8180, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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The decline of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the Gulf of Alaska appears to have been associated with a switch of diet from one dominated by fatty forage fishes (such as herring; Clupea pallasi) to one dominated by low-fat fish (such as pollock; Theragra chalcogramma). Observations made during the decline include reduced body size of sea lions, low pregnancy rates, and high mortality. We used the general mammalian model, the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus), to test whether changing the quality of prey consumed could cause changes in size and reproductive performance. Five groups of twelve female, weanling rats were fed diets composed of herring (H), pollock (P), pollock supplemented with herring oil (PH), pollock supplemented with pollock oil (PP), or a semi-purified diet (ICN). Mean body weights were greatest for H, followed by PH, P, PP and finally ICN, although ICN was the only group significantly different from the others (P<0·05). Food intakes before mating were 10 % higher for groups on the lower-fat diets (P and ICN), resulting in similar energy intakes in all groups. The protein efficiency ratio was highest for the H diet, slightly lower for all pollock diets, and significantly lower for ICN (P<0·05). The fetal weights for mothers fed P were significantly reduced (P<0·05). The present study shows that the energy content was a major limiting factor in the nutritional quality of pollock. When food intake was adjusted to meet energetic requirements, there were no detrimental consequences from eating pollock. However, supplementation of pollock meal with additional pollock oil may reduce growth and reproductive performance, although the reasons for this were not apparent.

Keywords

Steller sea lionsGrowthReproductionEnergy requirements
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 89 , Issue 1 , January 2003 , pp. 71 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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