724_Final Report.pdf - North Pacific Research Board

the body fat of predators, and thus, FAs can be used as qualitative and quantitative tracers of prey
consumption (Iverson 1993, Iverson et al. 2004, Budge et al. 2006). FAs consumed in diet above
immediate energy requirements are re-esterified, primarily to triacylglycerols, and deposited in the fat
energy reservoirs in predators. FA signatures can be analyzed from samples collected from subcutaneous
adipose tissues, providing a non-lethal and less invasive method than those traditionally used for diet
sampling, and making this technique particularly useful in estimating the diets of endangered and
threatened species.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The overall goal of the project was to develop diet assessment techniques to study habitat requirements
and diets of the threatened eider populations within the North Pacific ecosystem. The original objective
outlined in the funded project proposal was:
1. Determine dietary FA deposition and calibration coefficients for captive spectacled and Steller’s eiders
for QFASA.
This objective was completed successfully.
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