AGRO 245 |
| Establishing the prevalence and behavior patterns associated with the consumption of anthropogenic foods by bears (Ursus sp.) is a significant wildlife management issue. To evaluate the feasibility of using bear fatty acid profiles for detecting anthropogenic food sources in the diet of bears, captive bears were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with margarine containing the trans fat, Elaidic Acid (C18:1n9t). Tissue samples (muscle, subcutaneous fat, and blood) were periodically collected over a three month period for fatty acid analysis. The samples were solvent extracted using a modified Folch procedure and methyl esterified for subsequent gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Elaidic Acid was detected in the blood of a bear fed margarine daily, over a period of two weeks. Based on this result, tissues samples collected from 21 bears involved in wildlife management activities were analyzed for the presence of trans fatty acids. In 12 of the bears, trans fatty acids were detected at levels interpreted as indicating a significant anthropogenic food component in the diet.
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Characterizing Natural Products as Pesticides, Repellents, or Biomarkers
1:00 PM-3:50 PM, Thursday, 14 September 2006 San Francisco Marriott -- Salon 2, Oral
Division of Agrochemicals |