Meeting Abstract

S9.2-2  Tuesday, Jan. 7 11:00  THE FAT OF THE MATTER: HOW DIETARY FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AFFECTS ENERGY EXPENDITURE OF BIRDS DURING MIGRATION MCWILLIAMS, S.R.*; PIERCE, B; University of Rhode Island; Sacred Heart University srmcwilliams@uri.edu

Fatty acid composition of fat stores affects exercise performance in a variety of vertebrates although few such studies focus on birds. In theory, selectively feeding on certain long-chain unsaturated fatty acids may be advantageous because (1) such fatty acids may be metabolized more quickly and may stimulate key facets of aerobic metabolism; and (2) such fatty acids may affect composition and key functions of lipid-rich cell membranes. We outline these hypotheses in some detail, and then evaluate the evidence for what determines exercise performance of migratory birds. The predominate mechanism whereby fatty acid composition affects exercise performance of birds seems to be related more to the rate of fatty acid oxidation rather than membrane composition per se. Supported by NSF (IOS-0748349) and USDA (RIAES-538748).