Premium
Liver and plasma retinol (vitamin A) in wild, and liver retinol in captive penguins (Spheniscidae)
Author(s) -
Ghebrmeskel K.,
Williams G.,
Keymer I. F.,
Horsley D. T.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02580.x
Subject(s) - pygoscelis , biology , retinol , seabird , moulting , endocrinology , medicine , zoology , vitamin , ecology , predation , foraging , larva
In rockhopper penguins ( Eudyptes crestatus ), liver concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) were significantly higher in post‐moult than in pre‐moult birds. In Magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magelianicus ), plasma concentrations of retinol were significantly higher in post‐moult than in pre‐moult birds; liver retinol concentrations were also higher, but not significantly so. The pre‐ and post‐moult Magellanics had higher liver and lower plasma retinol concentrations than the pre‐ and post‐moult rockhoppers. Captive blackfooted (jackass) ( Spheniscus demersus ), king ( Aptenodytes patagonica ) and Humboldt ( Spheniscus humboldti ) penguins had liver vitamin A stores significantly lower than those of the free‐living rockhopper, Magellanic, gentoo ( Pygoscelis papua ), emperor ( Aptenodytes forsteri ), chinstraps ( Pygoscelis antarctica ) and Adélie ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) penguins.