body condition
3 stories filed under body condition on World Data Ocean. The newest of them: “Measuring the metabolic cost of seasonal change for Sarasota's bottlenose dolphins”, “Individual traits shape foraging behavior in Antarctica's southernmost penguin colony”, and “Seaweed Supplementation Boosts Salmon Growth, Reveals Genetic Insights”. In Sarasota Bay, a dolphin burns energy like a sea lion. Sex and body condition shape how emperor penguins forage at Cape Crozier, Antarctica's southernmost colony. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to… The list below is every body condition story on World Data Ocean, newest first.
Measuring the metabolic cost of seasonal change for Sarasota's bottlenose dolphins
In Sarasota Bay, a dolphin burns energy like a sea lion. Measuring the field metabolic rate of 14 bottlenose dolphins over two years, researchers found summer rates 5.3 times higher than resting metabolism under human care. These animals carry more fat in winter and drink far less water. As waters warm, this already expensive lifestyle may become unsustainable, especially if prey quality declines. Our related decades of photo-ID data reveal Sarasota dolphins' seasonal patterns offers deeper context on their long-term resilience.
Individual traits shape foraging behavior in Antarctica's southernmost penguin colony
Sex and body condition shape how emperor penguins forage at Cape Crozier, Antarctica's southernmost colony. Our analysis of eight individuals revealed two distinct behavioral groups, both traveled similar distances but differed in dive depth and rate. Group membership correlated with sex but was not defined by it. A Hidden Markov Model showed horizontal movement alone effectively classified foraging states. These initial findings suggest individual strategies vary meaningfully, influencing how penguins exploit a dynamic marine environment.
Seaweed Supplementation Boosts Salmon Growth, Reveals Genetic Insights
A single brown seaweed, *Alaria esculenta*, is proving that sustainable feed can do more than reduce environmental strain. In Atlantic salmon, its inclusion significantly boosted body condition and increased the muscle cross-sectional area of the valuable filet. The genetic picture is equally compelling: hundreds of genes shifted expression, touching on muscle and immune function. This is measurable, integrated evidence that functional feeds work.