Fatty Acid Composition of Wintering Female Mallards in Relation to Nutrient Use

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We describe the fatty acid composition of fat depots, the carcass, and major foods for female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) during winter in southeastern Missouri. Fatty acids in stored fats were myristic (14:0, C-chain length:number of double bonds), palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), and arachidonic (20:4) acids. The carcass contained more 16:1, 18:3, and 20:4, whereas subcutaneous fats contained more 16:0 and 18:0 than other fat deposits. The mass of peritoneal fat was positively correlated with amounts of 18:1 in the depot. Females consumed large quantities of acorns, which are high in 18:1, during periods of increased fat deposition before pairing and spring migration. Mallards may optimize fat storage by eating foods such as acorns and crustaceans that yield large quantities of 16:1, 18:0, and 18:1. These fatty acids provide compact storage because of greater saturation; yet, they have long C-chains that increase energy storage.