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Structural fiber reinforcement of keel blubber in harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by Jonna L. Hamilton; Richard M. Dillaman; William A. McLellan; D. Ann Pabst is a Environmental Science article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Structural fiber reinforcement of keel blubber in harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) about?

## Abstract This study investigated the functional morphology of the blubber that forms the caudal keels of the harbor porpoise (__Phocoena phocoena__). Blubber is a pliant biocomposite formed by adipocytes and structural fibers composed of collagen and elastic fibers. Caudal keels are dorsally and ventrally placed triangular wedges of blubber that define the hydrodynamic profile of the porpoise tailstock. Mechanical tests on carcasses demonstrate that when keels are bent, they strain nonuniformly along their lengths, with highest strains just caudal to the dorsal fin and lowest at the insertion of the flukes. Therefore, caudal keels undergo nonuniform longitudinal deformation while maintaining a stable, triangular cross‐sectional shape. Polarizing and transmitted light microscopy techniques were used to investigate blubber's 3D fiber architecture along the length of the dorsal keel. The triangular cross‐sectional shape of the keel appears to be maintained by structural fibers oriented to act as tensile stays. The construction of the blubber composite is regionally specific :structural fiber densities and diameters are higher in the relatively stiff caudal region of the keel than i

Who reads Structural fiber reinforcement of keel blubber in harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)?

Author

Jonna L. Hamilton; Richard M. Dillaman; William A. McLellan; D. Ann Pabst

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0362-2525)

Published

2004

Language

EN

Field

Environmental Science (Physical Sciences)