Serum fatty acid analysis and digestibility study in the Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) fed a captive diet supplemented with α‐linolenic acid

Abstract

Mammals that hibernate must rely on endogenous lipid reserves to survive over winter. This study was conducted to compare the difference in serum fatty acid composition, dietary intake, and apparent digestibility in the Vancouver Island marmot (N = 6) fed the Metro Zoo lagomorph diet supplemented with α‐linolenic acid [C(18:3) n‐3 (α‐LA)]. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 3 Latin square with three 17‐day collection periods. The test diets contained 12.16, 14.85, and 17.05% α‐LA as a percentage of fatty acids in the diet supplied through the addition of flaxseed oil (∼53% α‐LA). Across treatments, dry matter intake (g/d), dry matter digestibility, apparent fat digestibility, and apparent neutral detergent fiber digestibility did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum α‐LA concentration between the three levels of α‐LA supplementation. However, this supplementation did elevate serum α‐LA, eicosapentaenoic acid [C20:5 (n‐3)], and docosahexaenoic acid [C22:6 (n‐3)] levels compared with feeding the basal zoo lagomorph diet (P < 0.05). Thus, supplementation of the basal zoo lagomorph diet with α‐LA elevated the serum levels of essential fatty acids in the Vancouver Island marmot. Zoo Biol 20:251–259, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Release date influences first‐year site fidelity and survival in captive‐bred Vancouver Island marmots

“…Hibernation requires the accumulation of fat reserves during the active season because marmots do not store food (Ortmann and Heldmaier , Legaarden et al. , Armitage et al. ).…”

“…Vancouver Island marmots are typically active above ground April-October, but hibernate as a group for an average of 210 d yr −1 (Bryant and McAdie 2003). Hibernation requires the accumulation of fat reserves during the active season because marmots do not store food (Ortmann and Heldmaier 2000, Legaarden et al 2001, Armitage et al 2003. Marmots dig burrows used as hibernacula, for sleeping and birthing, and as refugia from predators (Blumstein et al 2001) and thermal stress (Heard 1977).…”