Ocean and Polar Research

Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (한국해양과학기술원)
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Stratification of Lipid Content and Composition in Blubber of Marine Cetacean from Korean Waters

한국 근해에 서식하는 고래 피하지방의 층별 지방 함량 및 구성 변화

  • Ko, Ah-Ra (Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology Hanyang University) ;
  • Ju, Se-Jong (Deep-Sea & Marine Georesources Research Department, KORDI) ;
  • Moon, Dae-Yeon (Cetacean Research Institute, NFRDI) ;
  • Choi, Seok-Gwan (Cetacean Research Institute, NFRDI) ;
  • Kim, Zang-Geun (Fundamental Research Department, NFRDI) ;
  • Shin, Kyung-Hoon (Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology Hanyang University)
  • 고아라 (한양대학교 과학기술학부 해양환경과학과) ;
  • 주세종 (한국해양연구원 심해.해저자원연구부) ;
  • 문대연 (국립수산과학원 고래연구소) ;
  • 최석관 (국립수산과학원 고래연구소) ;
  • 김장근 (국립수산과학원 기반연구부) ;
  • 신경훈 (한양대학교 과학기술학부 해양환경과학과)
  • Received : 2010.10.19
  • Accepted : 2011.01.13
  • Published : 2011.03.30
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Abstract

Blubber plays different biological roles in cetaceans, including structural support, physiological demands (thermoregulation, streamlining, buoyancy, etc.), and energy storage. As such, biochemical composition, especially lipid, in the blubber may be vertically stratified in order to effectively assist with these functions. We analysed lipid content, class and fatty acid composition in the blubber of by-catch minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata; n = 11), long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis; n = 3) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obiquidens; n = 2) from Korean waters. Lipid content for all three species ranged from 55 to 96% of wet weight, with a dominance of triacylglycerols. Vertical stratification of blubber lipid content was different between species. For minke whale and longbeaked common dolphin, it increased from inner (near the muscle) to outer (near the skin) layer, whereas it decreased for Pacific white-sided dolphin. Thirty-one fatty acids were found in all blubber samples and vertical stratification of fatty acid composition was similar among all three species. Among grouped fatty acids, monounsaturates were the most abundant, gradually increasing from inner to outer blubber layer, whereas polyunsaturates and saturates decreased. Such vertical stratification of lipid content and composition suggests that the modification and accumulation of lipid occur in the blubber itself in order to help cetaceans with their specific physiological needs.

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