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An improved technique for estimating pectoral muscle protein condition from body measurements of live gulls
Author(s) -
BOLTON M.,
MONAGHAN P.,
HOUSTON D. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1991.tb04568.x
Subject(s) - pectoral muscle , keel , biology , anatomy , leg muscle , muscle protein , dietary protein , body weight , muscle mass , zoology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , skeletal muscle , medicine , endocrinology , geography , archaeology
Body measurements, which could be taken from live birds, were used to estimate total pectoral muscle protein in Lesser Black‐backed Gulls Larus fuscus. The maximum cross‐sectional area of the flight muscles was measured from the profile of the muscle surface over the keel, and this was used in conjunction with the length of the flight muscle to estimate muscle volume. The estimate of muscle volume was then used with fresh body weight to estimate total flight muscle protein. A highly significant correlation was found between the estimated values and actual pectoral muscle protein mass determined by carcass analysis. The model developed from the source group was then validated using a second independent sample, in which flight muscle protein was estimated from the model. Carcass analysis again demonstrated a good correlation between estimated and actual total protein. Different methods of controlling for body‐size to calculate protein condition from measures of total protein were considered. The technique described here provides a simple and reliable method of estimating pectoral muscle protein condition in live gulls which could be applied to studies of body condition in other species.