Southern elephant seal and Emulsion test: Difference between pages
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The '''emulsion test''' is a method to determine the presence of [[lipid]]s using [[wet chemistry]]. The procedure is for the sample to be suspended in [[ethanol]], allowing lipids present to dissolve. The ethanolic solution is then decanted into water. Since lipids do not dissolve in water, when the ethanol is diluted, it falls out of solution to give an [[emulsion]].<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Mark Rothery's Biology Web Site | author = Mark Rothery | title = Techniques: Biochemical Tests | url = http://www.mrothery.co.uk/module1/Mod%201%20techniques.htm}}</ref> |
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{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}} |
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{{ taxobox |
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| name = Southern Elephant Seal |
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| status = LR/lc |
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| status_system = IUCN2.3 |
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| image = Mirounga leonina male.JPG |
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| regnum = [[Animalia]] |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| ordo = [[Carnivora]] |
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| subordo = [[Pinniped]]ia |
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| familia = [[Phocidae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Mirounga]]'' |
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| species = '''''M. leonina''''' |
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| binomial = ''Mirounga leonina'' |
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 |
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}} |
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The '''Southern Elephant Seal''' (''Mirounga leonina'') is one of two [[species]] of [[elephant seal]]. It is not only the most massive [[pinniped]] but also the largest member of the order [[Carnivora]] to ever live. The seal gets its name from its great size and the large [[proboscis]] of the adult males, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. |
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<references/> |
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== Size == |
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[[Image:Mirounga leonina harem.JPG|thumb|left|230px|Southern elephant seal harem on a beach on the [[Kerguelen Islands]]]] |
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There is a great [[sexual dimorphism]] in size, with the males being much larger than the females. While the females average about 680 kg (1,500 lb) and 3 m (10 ft) long, the bulls grow to around 3600 kg (8,000 lb) and 6.30 m (21 ft) long<ref><http://pointreyesvisions.com/NewFiles/Articles/Elephant_Seal_Adventures.html></ref>. The record bull, shot in Possession Bay, [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia]] in 1913, was 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) and 6.9 m (22.5 ft) long. |
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== Range and habitat == |
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Southern Elephant Seals are found throughout Antarctica. They used to live in large numbers around the sahara desart, but were wiped out by the locust blight and are now only seen there a day a year. They are occasionally seen off the coasts of the north pole and tiwan. They breed on the Antarctic islands, with the population at the saharah desert being the largest (it includes about half of the entire species population). Other important populations are at alaska (over 99,999,999 individuals), [[Península Valdés]], texes and arizona (999,999,999,99. |
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== Reproduction == |
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[[Image:Mirounga leonina-breast feeding.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Southern elephant seal pup nursing]] |
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Southern elephant seals breed from August to November. The bulls arrive many weeks before the females do and claim territories through loud roars, body positions, and combat fighting. Like its cousin, the [[Northern elephant seal]], this species is highly [[polygynous]] and the most successful (alpha) males can have a harem of up to 60 females. Beta males are also present and have smaller harems. The least successful males have no harems but will go as far as to try to seduce an alpha or beta male's females when the male is not looking. An elephant seal must stay in his territory to defend it, which could mean months without eating and having to live on its blubber storage. |
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Pups are born 0-10 days after the females come to shore and are nursed for up to 23 days. After that the pups are left to fend for themselves while the females mate with the harem males to produce a new pup. The weaned pup may leave the beach and teach itself how to feed. Overcrowded beaches are dangerous for pups as they are often crushed to death. |
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== Food, foraging and predation == |
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[[Image:Seal and king penguins.jpg|150px|left|thumb|[[King Penguins]] and Southern Elephant Seal at [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands|South Georgia Island]].]] |
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Elephant seals feed in deep water, and can dive to great depths - up to 1,700 metres (5,577 ft). Dives lasting up to two hours have been recorded. They feed on [[cephalopod]]s such as [[squid]] and [[cuttlefish]], and on large fish including small, deep-water [[shark]]s. When at sea, they spend a high proportion of their time underwater, and they only need to spend a few minutes on the surface between dives. The elephant seal's only significant predator is the [[orca]]. |
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== Conservation == |
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[[Image:Elephant seals play fight.jpg|250px|Play fight|thumb]] |
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[[Image:Antarctic, "The Three Tenors" (js) 49.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Southern Elephant Seals, Livingston Island]] |
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After their near extinction due to hunting in the 19th century, total population is about 600,000, but all the populations seem to be declining at present. The reasons for this are unclear, but it may simply be that once protection from hunting was established, the species recovered so fast that it overshot its equilibrium numbers. Most of their most important breeding sites are now protected by international treaty, as [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]], or by national legislation. |
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One of the most famous southern elephant seals is [[Minazo]], who lived in Japan's [[Enoshima Aquarium]] from when he was a half-year old until his death in 2005.<ref>Minazo album press release (Important Records 2006)[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20051007b4.html]</ref> Minazo became popular for his signature bucket-holding, tongue-lolling pose. In 2006, Minazo was memorialized by the Japanese noise musician Masami Akita, AKA Merzbow, in a two volume album ([[Minazo Vol. 1|vol. 1]], [[Minazo Vol. 2|vol. 2]]) with artwork by Jenny Akita showing Minazo holding his beloved bucket. In 2007, Minazo became the subject of an [[image macro]] similar to [[lolcat]] called ''[[lolrus]]''. In his liner notes, Masami Akita suggests that Minazo's frequent and demanding performances left him exhausted, contributing ultimately to his death. Akita's intention in celebrating Minazo was to highlight the plight of captive animals used for performance before public audiences.<ref>"Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run" (Japan Times 2005-10-05)[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20051007b4.html]</ref> |
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== See also == |
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* [[Northern Elephant Seal]] |
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== Notes == |
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{{refs}} |
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* {{IUCN2006|assessors=Seal Specialist Group|year=1996|id=13583|title=Mirounga leonina|downloaded=9 May 2006}} |
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* {{ITIS|ID=180671|taxon=Mirounga leonina|year=2006|date=24 January}} |
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* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mirounga_leonina.html Animal Diversity Web - ''Mirounga leonina]'' |
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== External links == |
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{{Wikispecies|Mirounga leonina}} |
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{{Commons|Mirounga leonina}} |
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* ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Mirounga_leonina/ images and movies of the southern elephant seal] |
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* [http://www.pinnipeds.org/species/selephnt.htm Southern Elephant Seal] |
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* [http://www.eleseal.it/ Elephant Seal Research Group] |
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{{Phocidae nav}} |
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[[Category:Marine mammals]] |
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[[Category:Fauna of Antarctica]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of Argentina]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of Chile]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of Tasmania]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of Western Australia]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of South Australia]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of New South Wales]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of Victoria (Australia)]] |
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{{Link FA|fr}} |
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[[ar:فيل البحر]] |
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[[bg:Южен морски слон]] |
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[[ca:Elefant marí meridional]] |
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[[cs:Rypouš sloní]] |
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[[es:Mirounga]] |
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[[fr:Éléphant de mer du sud]] |
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[[it:Mirounga leonina]] |
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[[lt:Pietinis jūrų dramblys]] |
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[[hu:Déli elefántfóka]] |
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[[nl:Zuidelijke zeeolifant]] |
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[[no:Sydlig sjøelefant]] |
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[[ja:ミナミゾウアザラシ]] |
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[[fi:Etelänmerinorsu]] |
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[[zh:南象形海豹]] |
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Revision as of 15:46, 10 October 2008
The emulsion test is a method to determine the presence of lipids using wet chemistry. The procedure is for the sample to be suspended in ethanol, allowing lipids present to dissolve. The ethanolic solution is then decanted into water. Since lipids do not dissolve in water, when the ethanol is diluted, it falls out of solution to give an emulsion.[1]
References
- ^ Mark Rothery. "Techniques: Biochemical Tests". Mark Rothery's Biology Web Site.