Lipids: Fatty Acids and Adipose Tissue

Fats are the most energy-dense substrates, and foods high in fat are often selected by wildlife. Fat is the principal form of energy storage in animals. Body fat stores are mobilized in times of energy deficits such as the migratory flights of birds and the torpor bouts of mammals. Some polyunsaturated fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body and are therefore required in the diet. Essential fatty acids play important roles in a number of tissues such as the developing eyes and brain. Dietary changes that alter the fatty acid composition of tissues can affect annual patterns of migration and hibernation in wildlife.