Contribution of tissues to body mass in elk
A model for Reference Man has been developed to express the relative contribution of tissues and organs to total body mass in humans. The objectives of this study are to (1) develop a Reference Elk model for the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elophus nelsoni) and (2) compare the model developed with similar data for Reference Man and mule deer. Five female elk were collected from the eastern slope of the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. Relative weights of tissue and organs were determined. Relative amounts of skeletal muscle, bone, and lung tissues are similar between the three species. Tissues showing the greatest differences in relative mass were the adrenals and brain. The brain of man contributed 13 times more to total body mass than did the brain of elk. Percentages for most other tissues and organs varied by a factor of about 2 to 3 between species. (RJC)
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6853776
- Journal Information:
- J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States), Vol. 46:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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