Arnould J P, Hindell M A
Marine Mammal Research Group, Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, New South Wales, Australia.
Physiol Biochem Zool. 1999 Sep-Oct;72(5):605-12. doi: 10.1086/316702.
The proximate chemical composition of milk was determined throughout lactation in the Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus Wood Jones), a temperate species with an 11-mo lactation period typical of most temperate otariids. Average lipid and protein contents were 42% and 10%, respectively, which is similar to that recorded for the polar otariid species but higher than reported in other temperate, long-lactation species. Milk composition, however, varied substantially throughout lactation, with lipid content rising from 30% soon after parturition to 50% at 230 d postpartum before decreasing to 45% toward weaning. The trend in water content was opposite to that of lipid, while protein content increased only slightly during lactation from 10% to 12%. The peak in lipid content occurred at approximately 70% of the way through lactation, similar to that found in the Australian sea lion and several phocid seal species. Significant positive relationships were found between milk lipid content and both the duration of the preceding foraging trip and body mass. A highly significant and close correlation was found between milk water and lipid contents such that gross energy content may be accurately predicted from water content alone. Similar predictive equations have been found for several other otariid and phocid species, but these appear to differ between phylogenetic groups.
在澳大利亚海狗（Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus Wood Jones）整个哺乳期内测定了其乳汁的近似化学成分，澳大利亚海狗是一种温带物种，哺乳期为11个月，这在大多数温带海狮科动物中很典型。平均脂质和蛋白质含量分别为42%和10%，这与极地海狮科物种的记录相似，但高于其他温带、哺乳期长的物种的报道。然而，乳汁成分在整个哺乳期内有很大变化，脂质含量从分娩后不久的30%上升到产后230天的50%，然后在断奶前降至45%。水分含量的趋势与脂质相反，而蛋白质含量在哺乳期仅略有增加，从10%增至12%。脂质含量的峰值出现在哺乳期约70%的时间点，这与澳大利亚海狮和几种海豹科物种的情况相似。乳汁脂质含量与前一次觅食行程的持续时间和体重之间均存在显著的正相关关系。乳汁水分和脂质含量之间存在高度显著且密切的相关性，以至于仅根据水分含量就能准确预测总能量含量。在其他几种海狮科和海豹科物种中也发现了类似的预测方程，但这些方程在系统发育群体之间似乎有所不同。
