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Body condition and blood chemistry of agile wallabies (Macropus agilis) in the wet-dry tropics

Stirrat, SC (2003). Body condition and blood chemistry of agile wallabies (Macropus agilis) in the wet-dry tropics. Wildlife Research,30(1):59-67.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 18 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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Title Body condition and blood chemistry of agile wallabies (Macropus agilis) in the wet-dry tropics
Author Stirrat, SC
Journal Name Wildlife Research
Publication Date 2003
Volume Number 30
Issue Number 1
ISSN 1035-3712   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-0037692791
Start Page 59
End Page 67
Total Pages 9
Place of Publication Collingwood
Publisher Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Seasonal differences in body condition, haematology and serum chemistry of agile wallabies (Macropus agilis) in the wet-dry tropics are described. The mass of wallabies caught in the dry season was lower than predicted for their body size (on the basis of leg length), indicating that they were in poorer condition in the dry season than in the wet season. Several haematology and serum chemistry values indicated that wallabies captured in the late dry season were in an early stage of undernutrition. Plasma and serum protein, serum albumin and serum urea concentrations, all indicators of recent protein intake, and packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume were lower in the late dry season. However, the results for energy balance were inconclusive. Serum glucose concentration did not vary between seasons, while cholesterol concentration was lower and non-esterified fatty acid concentration was higher in the dry season. The wallabies foraged for a range of alternative food resources in the dry season, when preferred foods were scarce and of poorer quality. The results presented here indicate that although wallabies broadened their diet in the dry season, they were unable to maintain adequate nutritional intake to prevent loss of body condition.
Keywords white-tailed deer
tiletamine hydrochloride
zolazepam hydrochloride
metabolic indicators
nutritional indexes
seasonal influences
protein
energy
immobilization
marsupialia
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR01041   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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Created: Wed, 28 Nov 2007, 14:16:08 CST