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Chemical composition and tissue energy density of the cuttlefish (Sepia apama) and its assimilation efficiency by Diomedea albatrosses

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Abstract

The cuttlefish Sepia apama Gray (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) is a seasonally abundant food resource exploited annually by moulting albatrosses throughout winter and early spring in the coastal waters of New South Wales, Australia. To assess its nutritional value as albatross forage, we analysed S. apama for water, lipid protein, ash contents, energy density and amino acid composition. Because albatrosses consistently consume S. apama parts preferentially in the order of head, viscera and mantle, we analysed these sections separately, but did not identify any nutritional basis for this selective feeding behaviour. The gross energy value of S. apama bodies was 20.9 kJ/g dry mass, but their high water content (>83%; cf <70% for fish) results in a relatively low energy density of 3.53 kJ/g. This may contribute to a need to take large meals, which subsequently degrade flight performance. Protein content was typically >75% dry mass, whereas fat content was only about 1%. Albatrosses feed on many species of cephalopods and teleost fish, and we found the amino acid composition of S. apama to be comparable to a range of species within these taxa. We used S. apama exclusively in feeding trials to estimate the energy assimilation efficiency for Diomedea albatrosses. We estimated their nitrogen-corrected apparent energy assimilation efficiency for consuming this prey to be 81.82 ± 0.72% and nitrogen retention as 2.90 ± 0.11 g N kg−1 d−1. Although S. apama has a high water content and relatively low energy density, its protein composition is otherwise comparable to other albatross prey species. Consequently, the large size and seasonal abundance of this prey should ensure that albatrosses remain replete and adequately nourished on this forage while undergoing moult.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Amino acid

AE:

Apparent energy assimilation efficiency

AEn :

Nitrogen-corrected apparent energy assimilation efficiency

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Amy Barrie from the Manildra Group, Nowra, New South Wales, for the nitrogen analyses of cuttlefish tissue and albatross excreta, to Lindsay Smith and Carl Loves of the Southern Oceans Albatross Study Association and the students and staff of the University of Wollongong who assisted with the capture and husbandry and feeding of albatrosses. We thank also Ian Hume and the three anonymous referees whose critique greatly improved the manuscript.

All aspects of care and handling of birds during the time that they were held captive, conformed to the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (Australian National Health and Medical Research Foundation 1999–2004) and had gained approval from the University of Wollongong Animal Ethics Committee (Permit No. AE04/11).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    H. Battam

  2. Niche Environment and Heritage, PO Box 12, Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia

    M. Richardson

  3. School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    A. W. T. Watson

  4. Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3217, Australia

    W. A. Buttemer

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  1. H. Battam
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  4. W. A. Buttemer
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Correspondence to H. Battam.

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Communicated by I.D. Hume.

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Battam, H., Richardson, M., Watson, A.W.T. et al. Chemical composition and tissue energy density of the cuttlefish (Sepia apama) and its assimilation efficiency by Diomedea albatrosses. J Comp Physiol B 180, 1247–1255 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-010-0497-3

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