USE OF MANDIBLE VERSUS LONGBONE TO EVALUATE PERCENT MARROW FAT IN MOOSE AND CARIBOU

During winters 1977 through 1980 the mandible and a longbone were collected from moose (Alces alces) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) kills found while conducting a wolf (Canis lupus)-moose relationships study in southcentral Alaska. Percent marrow fat for the paired samples was significantly correlated, suggesting that mandibles could be used in lieu of longbones for marrow fat analyses. Results of the study were compared with those obtained for Ontario moose and were combined for analysis. Percent fat for the paired bones was significantly correlated for both calf and adult moose; however, the slopes and intercepts for the two age classes were different, suggesting differences in fat mobilization by age class