An evaluation of condition indices for birds
Journal of Wildlife Management
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Abstract
A Lipid Index, the ratio of fat to fat-free dry weight, is proposed as a measure of fat stores in birds. The estimation of the index from field measurements of live birds is illustrated with data on the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) and greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons). Of the various methods of assessing fat stores, lipid extraction is the most accurate but also the most involved. Water extraction is a simpler laboratory method that provides a good index to fat and can be calibrated to serve as an estimator. Body weight itself is often inadequate as a condition index, but scaling by morphological measurements can markedly improve its value.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | An evaluation of condition indices for birds |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3801673 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1985 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 7 p. |
| First page | 569 |
| Last page | 575 |