Table 1. Thermal conductivity (k), thickness (d), thermal resistance
(‘insulation’) (R), lipid content and water content of blubber samples taken
from four different sites (A-D in Fig 1) of nine minke whales
Sample
site k (Wm-‘K-r) d(mm) R (m*KW-I) % Lipid % Water
A 0.25 f 0.05 35*1 0.14 f 0.05 4683 l-23
B 0.20 f 0.02 40*9 0.20 f 0.04 72-96 3-17
C 0.22 f 0.02 29 f 6 0.13 f 0.03 68-88 5-17
D 0.28 f 0.05 36&3 0.13 f 0.03 42-66 IO-30
Rest&s are presented as means f SD or as range (n = 9). One sample from
site D was cut too small and thermal conductivity could therefore not
be measured, but was calculated from its lipid and water content using
equations (3) and (4) (both calculations gave the same result of
0.28 Wm-' K-r).