The composition, energy content and function of the stomach oils of petrels (order, procellariiformes)

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 1976-01, Vol.23 (1), p.1-13
• Main Authors: Warham, John, Watts, Rodney, Dainty, R.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-0981; 1879-1697
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-0981(76)90081-2

The stomach oils of Diomedea epomophora Lesson, D. melanophris Temminck, D. chrysostoma Forster, D. bulleri Rothschild, Phoebetria palpebrata (Forster), Macronectes halli Mathews, Fulmarus glacialis (L.), Daption capense (L.), Pagodroma nivea (Forster), Pterodroma inexpectata (Forster), P. mollis (Gould), P. lessoni (Garnot), Procellaria aequinoctialis L., Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck), P.griseus (Gmelin) and Hydrobates pelagicus (L.) have been analysed for lipid classes and energy contents. All oils contained 39–41 kJ/g. Triglycerides composed > 25 % of the oils in eleven species, whilst ten species contained comparable amounts of wax esters. Squalene comprised 28 % of the oil from Diomedea epomophora. Major lipid classes were not associated with any particular genera. A wide variety of fatty acid, fatty alcohol and glyceryl ether compositions were identified for the main components of each oil. That from Daption capense contained a unique composition of wax ester in which no C 14 or C 16 alcohols were present but significant proportions of myristic and palmitic acids were detected. The origin and function of the oils are discussed in terms of diet, preserving properties, water and energy stores, and defence.