DelGiudice G D, Peterson R O, Seal U S
Research Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417.
J Wildl Dis. 1991 Jul;27(3):407-16. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-27.3.407.
During winters 1987-1988 (I) and 1988-1989 (II), we assessed the physiological status of moose (Alces alces) residing on the west and east ends of Isle Royale (Michigan, USA) by collecting and chemically analyzing urine deposited in snow (snow-urine) from January to early March. Samples were assayed for urea nitrogen (U), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and creatinine (C). Throughout both winters, elevated urinary U:C ratios in snow-urine samples collected from east-end moose compared to west-end moose indicated greater dietary energy deprivation and accelerated net catabolism of endogenous protein. Sodium: C ratios were low throughout the study and were similar between moose from both ends of the island, except during the middle of winter I. Greater K:C, P:C and Ca:C ratios in east-end moose compared to west-end moose throughout winter I, and increases in these ratios and U:C in east-end moose from middle to late winter during the second year provided additional evidence of a greater deterioration in condition in east-end moose. The superior nutrition provided to moose on the west end of the island was associated with more developed soils and diverse vegetation and a lower stem density of balsam fir compared to the east end.
在1987 - 1988年冬季（I）和1988 - 1989年冬季（II），我们通过收集1月至3月初沉积在雪中的尿液（雪尿）并进行化学分析，评估了居住在美国密歇根州皇家岛东西两端的驼鹿（驼鹿属）的生理状况。对样本进行了尿素氮（U）、钠（Na）、钾（K）、钙（Ca）、磷（P）和肌酐（C）的检测。在整个两个冬季，与西端驼鹿相比，从东端驼鹿收集的雪尿样本中尿U:C比值升高，表明饮食能量剥夺更大，内源性蛋白质的净分解代谢加速。在整个研究过程中，钠:C比值较低，且岛两端的驼鹿之间相似，但在冬季I中期除外。在整个冬季I中，与西端驼鹿相比，东端驼鹿的K:C、P:C和Ca:C比值更高，并且在第二年从冬季中期到后期，东端驼鹿的这些比值以及U:C增加，这提供了东端驼鹿状况恶化更严重的额外证据。与东端相比，该岛西端为驼鹿提供的优质营养与更发达的土壤、多样的植被以及较低的香脂冷杉茎密度有关。
