engleski

Comparison of fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue of gray wolf (Canis lupus) and small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in Croatia

Analysis of fatty acid (FA) composition is a method often used in research of the foraging habits of free-ranging animals. Depending on the species, many of the FAs contained in adipose tissue are derived directly from the diet. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the foraging patterns and physiological status of free ranging gray wolves and small Indian mongooses in Croatia. The study was conducted on 44 individual gray wolves (female: n=19 ; male: n=23 ; samples collected during the years of legal quota cull, 2009- 2011) and 10 male small Indian mongooses (samples collected after legal harvest on the island of Mljet, 2014). After thawing, homogenization and lipid extraction, the FA composition was determined by gas chromatography. The subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of both species is dominated by FAs with one double bond (38.6% in gray wolf vs. 49.3% in mongoose). Saturated fatty acids constituted 38.4% in gray wolf vs. 38.6% in mongoose. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in 7.1% in gray wolf vs. 12.1% in mongoose. We found signifcantly higher percentages of C16:1c, C18:1t6, C18:1t9, C18:1t11, C20:4n-6, MUFA and PUFA in the SAT of the gray wolf compared to the SAT of the mongoose. Furthermore, we found that gender had a signifcant effect on the FA composition of the SAT of the two carnivores. Higher percentages of C16:1c, C18:1t9 and MUFA were found in the SAT of the gray wolf males compared to mongoose samples. The FAs of the SAT of the gray wolf and mongoose showed signifcant gender and species related differences. Similarities in the FAs of gray wolf and mongoose are derived from the phylogeny of carnivores, while diferences are the result of different physiological status and foraging patterns

fatty acid composition, subcutaneous adipose tissue, gray wolf, Indian small mongoose

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