Preferred Citation: Le Boeuf, Burney J., and Richard M. Laws, editors Elephant Seals: Population Ecology, Behavior, and Physiology. Berkeley:  University of California Press,  c1994 1994. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft7b69p131/


 

INDEX

A

Aborigines, importance of seals to, 30

Adenohypophysis, cell types in, 390

Adolescent growth spurt, 155 . See also Juveniles

Adoption, of orphan pups, 18 –19

Adrenal gland, in newborns, 394

Adults

survival rate of, 91

time at sea of, 15

Aerobic dive limit (ADL), 253 , 265 –269, 350

Age

dominance rank and, 191

effect on diving patterns of, 240 –242

effect on reproductive effort of, 169 –200

effect on time at sea of, 14 –15

of females at primiparity and natality, 17 , 89

in relation to length, 162 –165

in relation to male reproductive effort, 188 –192

in relation to reproductive effort, 172 –173

weaning success and, 146

Age classes, biomass of, 102 –103

Age-specific male mortality curve, 166

Age-specific mortality, in the northern species, 124

Age-specific natality, 140

Age-specific reproductive effort, 196 –200

Age-specific survival.

See also Survival

calculating, 86

effect of weaning mass, size, and condition on, 128

in the northern species, 124

rates of, 122

Age-specific weaning success, 144

Age structure studies, cross-sectional, 81

Aggressiveness, female, 18 , 151 , 197 . See also Dominance hierarchy

Air pressure anomalies, effect on population of, 78

Albatrosses, decline in, 69

Allen, Sarah G., 29

Alpha male, 15

American Society of Mammalogists, 158

Animal movements, between dawn and dusk, 234

Annual cycle, 9 –14, 356

Año Nuevo Island, 1 , 38

age-specific survival at, 124

annual cycle at, 9

background of, 122 –123

breeding season at, 10 , 12

colonization of, 39

dominance hierarchy at, 16

increase in births at, 37

juvenile survivorship at, 121 –122

mean duration of stay at, 189

pup mortality at, 133 –134

sexually mature males at, 173 –174

shark attacks at, 21

survey of, 42

survivorship curves for, 125

survivorship rates at, 133

Antarctica, births at, 51


400

Antarctic fur seals, 69 , 104

Antarctic Polar Front, 257

prey in, 371

Antarctic seals, derivation of, 2

Antarctic waters, role in annual cycle of, 69

Anthony, A. W., 31

Antipodes Island, population in, 61 –62

Antonelis, George A., 211

Apnea,

See also Sleep apnea

length of, 20

physiology of, 343

Apnea tolerance, during sleeping and diving, 343 –352

Aquatic matings, 56 . See also Mating

Aquatic phases

of the northern species, 238

of the southern species, 254

Argos-compatible transmitter packages, 365

Arnbom, Tom A., 98 , 354

Asaga, Tomohiro, 310 , 328

Ascent angles, 333

Ascent velocities, 105 , 331

of northern species females, 317

Avian Island, population in, 57

B

Baleen whales, 69

Bartholomew, George, xii , 32

Basal metabolic rate (BMR), 284 . See also Metabolism

Beachmaster male, 15 , 16

Beat-to-beat heart rate analyzer, 348

Behavior.

See also Diving behavior; Fasting

mating, 15 –16, 89

during molting, 363 –364

of the southern species, 66

Benthic foraging, 246 , 261 , 299 , 337 , 367 .

See also Foraging

dives associated with, 261 , 264

Type E dives and, 324

Benthic prey, 76 , 218 , 246 –247

Bester, Marthan N., xiii , 85

Biomass

of age classes, 102 –103

estimates of, 102 –103

in the South Georgia population, 98 –114

Biopsies, 274

Birth.

See also Births

cold stress at, 388

mean mass at, 104

pineal size at, 392

pup mass at, 202

sex ratio at, 86

thyroid changes after, 391 –392

Birthplace, female return to, 19

Births

at the Año Nuevo colony, 122

after colonization, 39

estimates of, 40

1958–1991, 34 –35

rates of change of, 43 –44

Birth weight, 356

Blood oxygen

during sleep apnea, 350 –351

storage of, 283

Blood samples, 274

Blood volumes, 283

Blubber, benefits of, 20

Blubber oil yields, 52 , 53

Body composition

changes in, 375

of southern species females, 359 –362

Body fat, effect on insulin response of, 379 –380

Body mass

calculation of, 201 –202

fluctuations in, 199

losses in, 307

measurement of, 174 –176

reproductive effort and, 179 –185

Body reserves, drain of lactation on, 93

Body temperature, maintenance of, 388

Bottom time, of northern species females, 317

Bouvet Island, 50

population in, 57

Boyd, Ian L., 98 , 354

Bradycardia, 347 –348

Branding, 133

Breeding.

See also Mating

age at first, 138 –141

deferred, 151

intermittent, 139 –140

male weight loss during, 363

mass loss during, 193

Breeding competition, 155

Breeding fast.

See also Fasting

duration of, 179

male mass loss during, 188 –189

termination of, 192

Breeding females

haul-out pattern of, 61 , 238

at Macquarie Island, 68

size variation in, 356

Breeding intensity, of females, 141 –144


401

Breeding males

fasting among, 19

at Macquarie Island, 68

metabolic rates of, 104

Breeding season

body mass over, 201

of the northern species, 10

of the southern species, 13

Breeding sites, preferred, 9

Breeding unit, size of, 18

British Columbia waters, feeding in, 305

Brody function, 159 –160

Bryden, Michael M., 387

Bulls.

See also Dominant bulls; Males

belligerence of, 15

dominance hierarchy among, 52

prime breeding years for, 16

weights of, 362

Buoyancy, control of, 370

"Burst diving," 333

Burton, Harry R., 66 , 253

C

California

births in, 40

colonization of, 29 , 38 –39

commercial exploitation in, 30 –32

origins of elephant seals in, 2 –3

California Marine Mammal Center, 123

California rookeries, growth at, 36

California sea lions, diving bouts of, 311

Campbell Island, population in, 61

Cape Arago, 41

Cape San Martin, survey of, 42

Cape San Martin/Gorda colony, 38

Cape St. George, 40 –41

Capillary tube depth recorders, 273 –274

Cardiac patterns, 347 –348

Castellini, Michael A., 343

Censusing programs, 81

Cephalopods, 105 –106.

See also Prey

bioluminescence of, 219

percent of occurrence and habitat of, 214

as prey, 212 , 213

Chambers, C., 354

Channel Islands, colonization of, 39

Chemical immobilization, 212

Circulatory alterations, during diving and sleeping, 348 –350

Civil twilight, 228

Climatic fluctuations, population changes and, 77 –78

Clinton, Walter L., 154

Coefficient of drag (CD), 105

Cohort variation, in the northern species, 126 –128

Colonization process, of the northern species, 39

Commercial exploitation, of the northern species, 30 –32

Commercial fishing operations

competition with, 114

population decline and, 76

Competition.

See also Intrasexual competition

effect on population decline of, 76

among females, 193

Condition, effect on age-specific survival of, 128

Cookiecutter sharks, 21

Costa, Daniel P., 169 , 328

Courbet Peninsula, population in, 58 –59

Covariance, analysis of, 176

Cows.

See also Females

mortality rates of, 91 –93

movements at sea of, 93 –94

Cox Proportional Hazards Model (CPHM), 141

Crabeater seals, 69

Crocker, Daniel E., 169 , 328

Cross-sectional age structure studies, 81

Cross-sectional studies, 72

Crustaceans, as a component of diet, 213

Cyclostomes, 246

as a component of diet, 213 , 220

D

Dawn

animal movements at, 234

equations used to predict, 234

Day length, measuring, 230 –231

Deep dives, functions of, 263 . See also Diving

DeLong, Robert L., xiii , 29 , 211 , 290

Demographic studies, 81

Density-dependent mechanism, population size and, 75

Depensation concept, 146 –147, 151

Descent angles, 333

Descent velocities, 105 , 331

of northern species females, 317

Deutsch, Charles J., 169

Diel pattern, of diving, 317 –321

Diet.

See also Prey

components of, 113 –114, 307

in the Georgia Island population, 106 –107

of the northern species, 211 –221


402

Diet

of the southern species, 254

studies of, 81

Disease, role in population regulation of, 75

Dive depths

of adult males, 245 , 264 , 298

of juveniles, 285

of northern species females, 317

Dive depth-duration ratio, 315

Dive depth profiles, 366

Dive durations

frequency distributions of, 281

transit velocity and, 333

Dive elements

correlation coefficients between, 319

interrelationships among, 317

summary statistics of, 318

Dive function, in northern species females, 328 –337

Dive parameters, variation in, 297

Dive records, free-ranging, 239 , chapters 14–17 passim

Dive segments, speed changes during, 333

Dive sequences, 313

characteristics of, 323

Dive statistics, postbreeding, 245 , 264 , 296

Dive types, 259 –263

classification of, 312 , 330

distribution of, 316

of females, 310 –325

frequency distribution of, 320

functions of, 333 –337

percentage in dive periods of, 315

schematic profile of, 313

schematic representations of, 330

sequence of, 321

temporal frequency of, 313 –315

two-dimensional shapes for, 334

Type 1 dives, 253 , 260 –261

Type 2 dives, 253 , 261

Type 3 dives, 261 –262

Type 4 dives, 262

Type 5 dives, 262

Type 6 dives, 262 –263

Type A dives, 312 , 315 , 317 , 321 , 324 , 325 , 330 , 333 , 334

Type AB dives, 333 , 335

Type B dives, 312 , 313 –314, 324 , 330 , 333 , 334

Type C dives, 312 , 315 , 317 , 321 , 324 , 325 , 330 , 335

Type D dives, 312 , 315 , 317 , 321 –325, 330 , 333 , 336

Type E dives, 312 , 315 , 330 , 336 , 337

Diving

apnea tolerance during, 343 –352

in bouts, 311

circulatory alterations during, 348 –350

depth and duration of, 263 –265, chapters 13–18 passim

developmental aspects of, 271 –285

effect of reproductive condition on, 242 –246

effect of sex on, 246 –249

generalizations about, 239 –240, chapters 13–18 passim

heart rate during, 348

implications of weight change for, 370

by juveniles, 240 , chapter 15 passim

metabolic changes during, 350 –351

physiology of, 344 –345

studies of, 254 , chapters 13–18 passim

time spent at, 105

Diving animals, geolocation of, 235

Diving apnea, similarity to sleep apnea of, 349

Diving behavior, 233 –234, chapters 13–18 passim

during first foraging trip to sea, 276 –282, 284 –285

instruments for recording, 273 –274

physiological implications of, 265 –269

during the postweaning fast, 273 –274, 276

"Diving biology," 343

Diving metabolic rate, 265 –267, 284

changes in, 278

of juveniles, 276

Diving patterns, 249 –250, chapters 12–18 passim

effect of age and mass on, 240 –242

free-ranging, 275 –276

of juveniles, 284 –285

male versus female, 246 –247

variations in, 237 –251

Diving physiology, sleep physiology and, 345

Dominance hierarchy, 15 , 16

Dominance rank

age and, 191

in relation to male reproductive effort, 188 –192

Dominance status, of females, 197

Dominant bulls, matings by, 89


403

Double tagging, 123

Drift net fishing, 131

Dusk

animal movements at, 234

equations used to predict, 234

E

Early-born offspring, fitness benefit of, 199 –200

Early life, species differences in, 8

Ear tags, 123 , 133

Elasmobranchs, 246

Elephant Island, haul out at, 13

Elephant seal milk, 379

Elephant seals.

See also Northern species; Southern species

apnea tolerance in, 343 –352

appearance of, 4

cardiac patterns in, 347 –348

differences among species of, 4 –9

ease of study of, xi –xii

fasting among, xi , 374 –383

foraging ranges of, 69

land cycle of, 9 –14

nomenclature of, 3 –4

origins of, 2 –3

predator-prey relationship of, 79

production efficiency of, 111 , 113

time at sea of, 14 –15

tracking, 227

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, 37 , 38

effect on age of primiparity of, 139

effect on food resource distribution of, 80

effect on natality rates of, 140

effect on population of, 78

foraging during, 128

juvenile survivorship during, 121

survival during, 126

Emigration, of the northern species, 39

Endocrine changes, in newborns, 387 –396

Endocrine glands

importance to survival of, 394 –396

in newborns, 388 –394

Energy

acquisition, expenditure, and investment, 354 –372

expenditure and investment on shore, 356 –364

of foraging, 105 –106

of growth, 104

of molt, 104

of reproduction, 103 –104

Energy acquisition

interaction with energy expenditure of, 370 –372

at sea, 364 –369

Energy consumption, in the South Georgia population, 98 –114

Energy deficiencies, tolerance of, 199

Energy expenditures, in the southern species, 103 –107

Energy saving, apnea and, 20

Environmental change hypothesis, predictions from, 80

Environmental changes, effect on population decline of, 77 –79

Environmental conditions, exposure to, 388

Environmental patterns, large-scale, 77 –78

Epibenthic foraging, 299

Equilibration

effect on population decline of, 76 –77

predictions from, 79 –80

Equinoxes, 229 –230

Experience, weaning success and, 142 , 146

Exploratory dives, 262 , 263

Exponential growth curves, 159 –161

Extended surface intervals (ESIs), 313 , 325

Extinction, early presumptions about, 30 –32

F

Falkland Islands, 51

population in, 57

regulation of sealing by, 52 –53

Farallon Islands, 21 , 38 –42

studies of, 138

Fasting, xi

adaptation for, 379 , 382

benefits of, 20

hormones and fuel regulation in, 374 –383

as a life history trait, 19 –20

in males, 156

Fat growth, increase after birth of, 392

Fat oxidation metabolism, 379

Fat storage, capacity for, 20

Fecundity

female, 141 –144

male, 156

rates of, 86

Fedak, Michael A., 98 , 354

Feeding studies, 336 . See also Foraging

Female age, weaning success and, 142

Female aggression, 18

pup survival and, 151

Female life tables, 55

Female longevity, 87


404

Female mass

at parturition, 177 , 178

weaning success and, 17

Female molt

behavior and energetics of, 363 –364

in the northern species, 10

in the southern species, 13

Female mortality, 133

Female population, decline in, 77

Female pups, proportion at Marion Island, 89 . See also Pups

Female reproductive effort, influences on, 179 –188

Females.

See also Cows

access to, 15

age at first breeding of, 88 , 122 , 138 –139

age at primiparity and natality of, 17

body composition changes in, 359 –362

body mass and mass loss in, 174 –175

competition among, 193

costs of reproduction for, 140 –145

deferred maturity in, 17

dive patterns of, 246 , chapters 12–18 passim

dive types of, 310 –325

energy expenditure of, 108

foraging areas of, 257 –259

future fecundity and breeding intensity of, 141 –144

gross energy requirement for, 113

growth rate of, 155

intermittent breeding and natality of, 139 –140

maximum longevity for, 101

mean dive duration for, 267 , chapters 12–18 passim

migratory routes of, 248 –249, 300 –301, 302

postbreeding migrations of, 249 , 292 –293

postlactation trip to sea by, 15

reproductive cycle of, 16 –17

reproductive effort in, 170

reproductive success of, 17

reproductive value of, 172

site tenacity of, 139 –140

species differences among, 7

survival rate of, 90 –91

swim speed and dive function in, 328 –337

time spent on land and at sea by, 238 , 299 –303

tradeoffs in the life history of, 150 –151

weight loss during lactation of, 359

First breeding, age of males at, 155

First sea trip, dives during, 240 , 282 –283

First-year mortality.

See also Mortality

at Año Nuevo, 121

in the northern species, 124 –126

sea-level pressures and, 78 –79

First-year seals

prey of, 76

as targets for research efforts, 81

First-year survival, 88 –89.

See also Survival

calculating, 86

decline in, 76 , 79

food accessibility and, 80

influences on, 123

rates of, 90 , 91

studies of, 72

Fiscus, Clifford H., 211

Fisheries

competition with, 114

effect on survivorship of, 131

population decline and, 76

Fitness costs of reproduction, 197

Food

biomass consumed, 111 , 113

consumption in the South Georgia population, 110 –111

effect on population decline of, 76 –79

Foraging, 20

continuous nature of, 307

data gathering about, 364

on deep-dwelling prey, 76

energy expenditure of, 105 –106, 109

in first-year seals, 81

mixing of animals during, 249

in relation to oceanography, 371

sex differences in, 248 –249

success in, 365

time under water while, 335

Type D dives and, 321

Foraging areas, 69

distant, 371

dives in, 299

of Marion Island cows, 93

Foraging dives, 336 –337

Foraging ecology studies, 211

Foraging migrations, postbreeding, 290 –308

Foraging patterns, sex differences in, 336

Foraging trip, first, 276 –282, 284 –285

Fossil elephant seals, 2 –3

Free-ranging dive pattern, 275 –276

Fuel regulation, in fasting seals, 374 –383

Fuel turnover, studies in, 376


405

Fur seals, 2 , 69 , 104 , 155 , 311 , 325 , 378

Future research, directions for, 80 –81

G

Genetic variability, loss of, 41

Geographic location time-depth recorders (GLTDRs), 247 , 291 . See also Time-depth recorders (TDRs)

Geolocation

analysis software for, 87

by light levels, 227 –235, 248

recorders of, 81 , 291

Gestation, maternal investment during, 185

Gestation period, energy costs of, 92 –93

Giant petrel, decline in, 69

Global climate studies, 77 –78

Glucagon levels, 378 –379

Glucose tolerance tests (GTTs), 379 –380

Gompertz growth models, 101 , 159 –160

Gough Island, 50

population in, 57

Government-controlled sealing industry, 49 –63

Gray seals, 91

food consumption among, 99

mass change in, 193 –194

metabolic rates in, 246

Gross energy requirement, 111

Growth

energy of, 104

life history and, 165 –167

in males, 154 –167

measuring, in males, 158 –161

Growth functions, parameters for, 163

Growth hormone, in pups, 391

Growth spurt, in males, 166 –167

H

Habitat, terrestrial, 9

Halichoerus grypus. See Gray seals

Harbor seals

mass change in, 193 –194

metabolic requirements of, 268

studies on, 329

swimming efficiency of, 105

Harems.

See also Cows; Females

male positions in, 15 –16

organization of, 363

overcrowding of, 75

Harp seals

food consumption among, 99

heat increment of digestion for, 105

mass change in, 193

Harwood, J., 354

Heard Island, population in, 59

Heart pattern, 347 –348

Heat increment of feeding, 105 –106

Heat loss, reducing, 388

Hematocrit

determination of, 274 , 279

in Weddell seals, 348 –349

Hemoglobin

concentrations of, 283

determination of, 274 , 279

levels of, 348

Heterozygosity, findings on, 41

Hill, Roger D., xiii , 227

Hindell, Mark A., 66 , 253

Homing, translocation and, 249 –250

Hormones, in fasting seals, 374 –383

Huber, Harriet R., 29

Humans, predation by, 21

Hydrurga leptonyx. See Leopard seals

Hypophysis

development of, 388

in newborns, 389 –391

Hypoxia, defenses against, 329

I

"Ice seals," 68

Iles Crozet, population in, 60

Iles Kerguelen stock, 58 –60

Immigration, of the Northern species, 39

"Individual effect," in weaning success, 146 , 151 –152

Individual variation, significance for life history patterns, 145 –150

Injection method, remote, 87

Injuries

reproductive risk and, 176

sex differences in, 181 , 196

Insulin

protein synthesis and, 382 –383

secretion of, 378 –379

Insulin tolerance tests (ITTs), 380 –382

International Conference on Elephant Seals, xii

Intrasexual competition, 171 , 173 , 192 –193, 198

Isla Cedros, 38

Isla de Guadalupe, 30 –33, 36

Isla Natividad, 38

Isla San Martín, 38

Islas Los Coronados, 38

Islas San Benito, 30 , 33

Isotope dilution measurements, 355


406

J

Jameson, Ronald J., 29

Jolly-Seber mark-recapture analysis, 86

Juvenile haul-out

of the northern species, 12

of the southern species, 14

Juvenile males, social play among, 200 . See also Juveniles

Juvenile molt

of the northern species, 10

of the southern species, 13

Juvenile mortality, 92

at Año Nuevo, 131

population decline and, 77

predation as a cause of, 75

Juveniles

diving behavior of, 240 , 273 –274, 276 –282

diving pattern of, 284 –285

foraging locations of, 218

foraging trips of, 122

metabolic studies of, 275 , 283 –284

oxygen consumption in, 284

stomach contents of, 272

Juvenile survival

from ages 1 to 4, 128

at Año Nuevo, 131 –132

in the northern species, 121 –134

population regulation and, 80

rates of, 132

K

Kerguelen stock, 49 , 50 –51

decline in, 68

Killer whales, predation by, 21 , 75 , 131 , 262

King George Island, population in, 57

Kirby, Vicky Lee, 374

L

Lactation

body mass over, 201

duration of, 187 –188, 387

energy expenditure of, 92 –93, 103

female weight change during, 185 –187, 357 , 359

pup growth during, 356

Land

energetics on, 354 –355

first mating of females on, 16 –17

time spent on, 238

Latitude, determining, 229 –230

Laws, Richard M., xii , 1 , 49

Le Boeuf, Burney J., xii , xiii , 1 , 29 , 121 , 169 , 237 , 271 , 310 , 328

Length

effect on first-year survival of, 123 –124

measurement of, in males, 158 –161

as a measure of sexual size dimorphism, 178 –179

in relation to mass, 102

standard measurement of, 158 –159

of weanlings, 128

Leopard seals, 69

predation by, 21

Leptonychotes weddelli. See Weddell seals

Life history

male, 155 –158

in relation to growth, 165 –167

Life history parameters

differences in, 196

male, 154 –155

tagging studies to assess, 85

Life history patterns, individual variation and, 145 –150

Life history theory, 137 , 171

Life span, for males and females, 171

Life tables, 54 –55

for Año Nuevo, 124

calculating, 86

manipulation of data in, 89 –91

of Marion Island females, 88

for the southern species, 100 –101

Light-level curve, 235

Light levels

geolocation by, 227 –235, 248

measurement of, 232 –233

Lobodon carcinophagus. See Crabeater seals

Location, determination of, 228

Logistic function, 159 –160, 162

Longevity, female, 86 , 133

Longevity class, reproduction and, 146 –150

Longitude, estimates of, 229

Longitudinal studies, 72

Long Marine Laboratory, 275

Lowry, Mark S., 211

M

Macquarie Island, 49 , 50 –51, 60 –62

breeding females and males at, 68

breeding season at, 13

diving behavior at, 253 –269

female and juvenile molt at, 14

first-year survival at, 72

haul out at, 13

juveniles at, 14

population decline at, 67


407

population dynamics at, 80

post-year 1 survival curve for, 74

pup mortality at, 134

sealing at, 76

survivorship rates at, 66 , 133

Macrorhinus , 3

Maintenance metabolism, 193

Male life history

in relation to growth, 165 –167

review of, 155 –158

Male life tables, 55

Male molt

of the northern species, 10

of the southern species, 13

Male ranking, achievement of, 16

Male reproductive effort, 188 –192

age-specific, 173

effects of age class and dominance status on, 191 –192

Male reproductive energetics, 171 , 362 –363

Males.

See also Bulls

annual cycle of, 157

biomass of, 98

body mass and mass loss in, 175 –176

decline in population of, 77

dive depths of, 241 , 298

dive patterns of, 246 , chapters 14 and 16 passim

energy costs of reproduction in, 104

energy expenditure of, 107 –108

foraging areas of, 248 , 257 , 303

growth curve for, 166

growth pattern in, 159 –160

injury risk for, 179

mating effort of, 189

mating success of, 16

measuring length and growth in, 158 –161

postbreeding migrations of, 248 , 293 –294

reproductive effort in, 170

resource consumption by, 114

secondary sexual characteristics of, 4

sexual aggressiveness of, 15

sexual maturity of, 362

sexual selection and growth in, 154 –167

survival rate estimates for, 101

threat vocalizations of, 8

time spent on land and at sea by, 238

Male survival, costs of reproduction and, 156 –158

Marion Island

juvenile survivorship at, 132

population decline at, 85 , 87 –89

population ecology of southern species at, 85 –94

population in, 59 –60

survivorship rates at, 133

Mark-recapture analysis, 86

Mark-resighting programs, 81

Mass

determination of, 274

effect on diving patterns of, 240 –242

in relation to age, 102

in relation to male reproductive effort, 188 –192

in relation to nose-tail length, 102

Mass loss

over the breeding season, 179

calculation of, 201 –202

of lactating females, 93 , 185 –187

measurement of, 174 –176

Maternal age, reproductive effort and, 179 –185

Maternal investment

correlation with parturition mass and age of, 186

effect of pup sex on, 181 –185

measures of, 182 –183

pup birth mass and, 185

pup mass gain and, 187

weanling mass and, 188

Maternal mass, lactation duration and, 187 –188

Mating

behavior during, 15 –16

competition for, 155

effort of, 170

success of males in, 158 , 174

Maturation, male, 154

Mature cows, mortality rates of, 91 –93. See also Cows; Females

Maturity

male, 156

male growth after, 163

Maximum depth recorders (MDRs), 274

McCann, T. S., 354

McCann formula, 40 , 54 –55

McConnell, B. J., 354

MCT velocities, swimming at, 331 –332

Mean dive duration

changes in, 282

as a function of time at sea, 279 –282

Mesopelagic habitats, 307


408

Mesopelagic zone, feeding in, 306

"Metabolic overhead," 187

Metabolic rate.

See also Metabolism

of breeding males, 104

decrease in, 283 –284

during fasting, 375

after feeding, 336

increases in, 367 –369

of pregnant females, 244 –246

during sleeping and diving, 350 –351

of southern species females, 103

Metabolic studies, 275

during the postweaning fast, 276

Metabolism

fuel storage for, 376

swimming velocity and, 329

thyroid gland and, 391

Mexican Islands, survey of, 43

Mexico

births in, 40

new colonies in, 38

population increase at, 36

Microprocessor-based event recorder, 290 , 291

Microprocessor TDRs, 275 . See also Time-depth recorders (TDRs)

Migration.

See also Foraging

determining routes of, 247 –249

postbreeding foraging, 290 –308

satellite monitoring of, 251

Milk thieves, 18 –19

Mirounga , xi , 3 . See also Elephant seals

Mirounga angustirostris. See Northern species

Mirounga leonina. See Southern species

Mock fighting, 200

Molt

energy expenditure of, 104 , 109 –110

process of, 4

in southern species female, 363 –364

Monk seals, 3 , 4

Morris, Patricia, 121

Mortality.

See also Juvenile mortality; Pup mortality

age-specific, 122

first-year, 124 –126

growth rates and, 167

male, 155 , 156

at Marion Island, 88 –89

preweaning, 18 , 90

of three-year-old females, 91 –93

Mother-pup separation, 18

Multicomponent logistic growth functions, 166

Muscle samples, 274 –275

Myctophids, as a component of diet, 105 , 113 –114

Myoglobin assay, 274 –275

N

Naito, Yasuhiko, 310 , 328

Natality

age at, 17

measurement of, 138

National Marine Fisheries Service, 231

National Meteorological Center, 247

Nelson Island, population in, 57

Neonate mortality, 124 , 133 –134

Neritic zone, feeding in, 218

Newborns

adrenal gland in, 394

endocrine changes in, 387 –396

endocrine glands in, 388 –394

pineal gland in, 391 –394

thyroid gland in, 391 –392

Noncephalopod prey, 220

percent of occurrence and habitat of, 215

Nonforaging dives, 262 –263

Northern Hemisphere colonies, mixing among, 132 –133

Northern species (Mirounga angustirostris )

ancestry of, 30

colonization process of, 39

commercial exploitation of, 29 –32

diet of, 211 –221

differences from the southern species, 4 –9

dive depths of, 239 –243, 245 –246, 292 –298, chapters 13–15 passim

dive types of, in females, 310 –325

extinction presumptions about, 30 –32

female life history strategies in, 137 –152

future growth in, 40 –41

isolation of, 2

juvenile survivorship rate among, 121 –134

land cycle of, 9 –13

population increase in, 79 –80

population size of, 40

postbreeding foraging migrations of, 248 , 290 –308

prehistory of, 30

pup diving in, 271 –285

pup mortality in, 18


409

recent trends and present status of, 33 –39

recovery of, 41

sexual selection and growth of, in males, 154 –167

subtropical breeding locations of, 4 –7

survivorship curve of, 128

swim speed and dive function of, in females, 328 –337

threat call of males of, 8

time at sea of, 14 –15

variation in reproductive effort in, 169 –200

variations in diving patterns of, 237 –251

North Pacific, the northern species in, 40

North Pacific Transition Zone (NPTZ), 307 –308

North transits, 292

Nose-tail measurements, 101 –102

of males, 158 –159

Notothenids, as a component of diet, 105

Nur, Nadav, 137

Nursing, 18 –19

female fasting during, 19

growth rates during, 167

pup mass gain during, 188

of unrelated pups, 18

weight gain during, 375

Nursing period, length of, 272

O

Obstructive apnea, 349

Ocean circulation, effect on food resources of, 80

Ocean environment, effect on population decline of, 77 –79

Oceanography, in relation to foraging, 371

Odobenids (walruses), 2

Oil

sealing as a source of, 67

yields of, 52 , 53

Ommatophoca rossi. See Ross seals

On-shore energy expenditure, 356 –364

Orphan pups, adoption of, 18

Ortiz, C. Leo, 374

Otariids (fur seals and sea lions), 2

compared to phocids, 332

swim velocities in, 331

"Overshoot" hypothesis, 76 –77. See also Equilibration

Oxygen storage

capacity for, 274 , 283

diving performance and, 272 –273

P

Pacific whiting, as prey, 212 , 213 –217, 219

Parasite infestations, 75

Parental effort, 170

Parturition.

See also Birth

body mass at, 201

prior, 141 –142

Patagonia, population in, 57

"Paucity of males" hypothesis, 89

Pectoral girth, 102

Pelagic foraging dives, 261 , 263 –264

Pelagic prey, 76

Pelagic red crabs, as prey, 213 , 219

Penguins, 69

Península Valdes, population at, 57

Petrel populations, decline in, 69

Philopatry, 19

Phoca groenlandica. See Harp seals

Phoca hispida. See Ringed seals

Phoca vitulina. See Harbor seals

Phocids (the true seals), 2

annual food consumption estimates for, 99

compared to otariids, 332

mass change in species of, 193 –194

origins of, 2 –3

oxygen storage capacity in, 283

reproductive energetics in, 171

status in the Southern Ocean of, 69 –72

Photogrammetric technique, 175 , 191

Physiological variables, over the first eight months of life, 276

Physiology

diving behavior and, 265 –269

of phocids versus otariids, 332

role of melatonin in, 394

of sleep-associated apnea, 345 –351

Pineal gland

in newborns, 391 –394

in the northern species versus the southern species, 394

Pinnipeds, 2

diving in, 311 , 344

energy requirements of, 98 –99

growth pattern of, in males, 155

Placental mass, 104

Plasma glucose levels, in pups, 376 –377

Plasma hormone levels, 378 –379

Plasma metabolite levels, 376 –378

Point Reyes Headlands colony, 38

survey of, 43

Polar animals, pineal gland in, 392


410

Polygyny, 19

Population

difficulty in estimating, 68

increase in, 29

at Marion Island, 85 –94

in the South Georgia stock, 54 –58

Population biology studies, of the southern species, 72

Population biomass, estimates of, 113

Population decline, 67

causes of, 62 –63

characteristics of, 73 –75

commercial fishing and, 76

at Marion Island, 85

"overshoot" hypothesis of, 76 –77

Population growth, estimates of, 40

Populations, total energy requirements of, 99

Population size, of the northern species, 40

Population trends, of the southern species, 67 –72

Postbreeding migrations, 248 –249, 290 –308

dive depths during, 293

of females, 87 , 292 –293

of males, 293 –294

Postnatal life, melatonin concentration during, 393 –394

Postweaning fast, 122

development of diving during, 272 –273

diving behavior during, 273 –274, 276

duration of, 8

metabolic studies during, 276

Predation, 20 –21

population decline and, 75

Predator-prey relationship, 79

Pregnant females, dive duration in, 242 –246

Preweaning mortality, 75 , 90

Prey, 76

categories of, 216

diel vertical migration of, 218 –219

energy cost of warming, 369

index of consumption of, 212

secondary, 220

size of, 220

Primate growth models, 165

Primiparity, age at, 17 , 89 , 138 –139, 171

Prince Edward Island, population in, 60

"Processing" dives, 335

Production efficiency, 111 , 113

Puberty, male growth near, 165

Pup birth mass, 185

Pup counts

on Antipodes Island, 61 –62

on Campbell Island, 61

on the Courbet Peninsula, 58 –59

on Heard Island, 59

on Iles Crozet, 60

as an index of population growth, 40

on Macquarie Island, 60 –61

on Marion Island, 59 –60, 86

on Prince Edward Island, 60

on South Georgia Island, 56

Pup mass, 202

maternal investment and, 187

Pup mortality, 18

at Año Nuevo, 126 , 133 –134

density-dependent, 75

Pupping period

at Ano Nuevo, 10

at Macquarie Island, 13

of the southern species, 14

Pup production, estimates of, 62

Pups

developmental aspects of diving among, 271 –285

fat content at birth of, 104

growth hormone in, 391

growth of, 356 –359

hematocrit in, 349

molt differences in, 8

plasma glucose levels in, 382

respiratory pattern in, 345 –347

sex ratio of, 88

swimming and diving experience of, 271 –272

tagging of, 123

weight changes in, 357 , 358

Pup sex, reproductive effort and, 181 –185

R

Radioactive metabolic tracers, 350

Radio transmitters, for recording dive duration, 273

Range, of Marion Island cows, 93

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, 348

Reilly and Fedak equation, 103 , 104

Reiter, Joanne, 121

Remote injection method, immobilization using, 87

Renewable resources, rational utilization of, 63

Reproduction, 15 –19

age at first, 86

benefit of experience in, 200

costs associated with, 137 –138, 140 –145

effect of injury on, 176


411

energy expenditure of, 103 –104, 110

fitness costs of, 197

male, 155 , 156 –158

rate of investment in, 194 –195

in southern species males, 362 –363

Reproduction-survival tradeoff, 199

Reproductive condition, effect on diving of, 242 –246

Reproductive cycle, of females, 16 –17

Reproductive effort (RE), 170

age-specific, 196 –200

duration of, 195

female, 179 –188

magnitude of, 200

measurement of, 193

male, 188 –192

male mass loss during, 191

male variation in, 191

in relation to age, 172 –173

sex- and age-related variation in, 169 –200

sex comparison of, 179 , 192 –196

variation in, 195

Reproductive history, weaning success and, 146 –150

Reproductive rate, at Marion Island, 89

Reproductive season, 356

Reproductive success, xii

at Año Nuevo, 16

of females, 17

variation in, 195 –196

Research directions

deciding, 79

future, 80 –81

Research programs, 67

Resource allocation, to reproduction, 172

Respiratory costs, 113

Respiratory patterns, during sleep, 345 –347

Resting sites, preferred, 9

Richards function, 154 , 159 –160, 162

Ringed seals, 103 , 104

Risk, of reproduction, 176 , 196

Rockhopper penguin, 69

Rookeries, 4

Rookery density, weaning success and, 144 –145

Ross seals, 69

S

Sakurai, Haruo, 310

San Clemente Island, 38

San Miguel Island, 11 , 13

immigration from, 39 , 132

increase in births at, 36 –38

juvenile survivorship at, 121 , 134

survey of, 41

San Nicolas Island, 11 , 13

increase in births at, 37 , 38

survey of, 41 –42

Santa Barbara Island, 13 , 42

Santa Cruz Island, 40

Santa Rosa Island, 38 , 40

survey of, 42

Satellite geolocation equipment, 63

"Scabby molt," 12

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), 62

Scotia arc, colonies in, 50 –51

Sea

cow movements at, 93 –94

energetics at, 355

energy acquisition at, 364 –369

first foraging trip to, 276 –282

first mating of females at, 16 –17

first pelagic trip to, 272

first trip to, 284 –285

first-year mortality at, 124

time spent at, 238

weight gain at, 371

Sea-level pressure, first-year mortality and, 78 –79

Seal Fishery Ordinance (Falkland Islands), 52 –53

Sealing, 1

divisional quotas for, 54

effects of, 53 –54

eighteenth- and nineteenth-century, 51

at Macquarie Island, 76

of the northern species, 8 –9

Southern Hemisphere, 21

of the southern species, 49

at South Georgia, 52 –58

Sea lions, 2 , 311

Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), 355

Sea-surface temperature measurements, 304 –306

Seawater temperature, latitude and, 231 –232

Secondary prey items, 220

Secondary sexual characteristics, male, 174

Sedation procedure, 255

Sex

effect on diving of, 246 –249

effect on reproductive effort of, 169 –200

effect on time at sea of, 14 –15

Sex differences, 170 , 171

Sex ratio at birth, 86


412

Sexual behavior, at Marion Island, 89 . See also Mating; Reproduction

Sexual dimorphism, 4 , 177 –179

Sexual selection

for body size, 165

male growth patterns and, 155

in males, 154 –167, 155 –156

Shallow dives, 262 , 299

Shark attacks, 20 –21

Sigmoidal curve, 160 , 165

Signy Island, 14

haul out at, 13

pup molt at, 8

pup mortality at, 18

Site fidelity, 19

Size

effect on age-specific survival, 128

variability in, 177 –179, 371 –372

"Skipping," 138 , 139 –140

Sleep

apnea tolerance during, 343 –352

circulatory alterations during, 348 –350

metabolic changes during, 350 –351

patterns of, 20 , 343 –345

polygraph recording of, 346

respiratory pattern during, 345 –347

Sleep apnea.

See also Apnea

duration of, 345 –347

physiology of, 345 –351

studies of, 351 –352

Slip, David J., 66 , 253

Slow wave sleep (SWS), 348

Social organization, 15 –16

Social play, benefits of, 200

Solar equations, 229 –230

Solar navigation, 228 –229

South African fur seals, 325 , 378

South American colonies, 51

Southern California rookeries, 13

immigration to, 133

Southern Hemisphere, sealing in, 21

Southern Indian Ocean, population decline in, 66 –81

Southern Ocean ecosystem, 67

food resource distribution in, 80

predation of squid and fish in, 254

status of phocid in, 69 –72

Southern Pacific, population decline in, 66 –81

Southern species (Mirounga leonina )

annual cycle of, 254

annual energy budget of, 107 –110

breeding distribution of, 50

breeding season of, 14

decline in, 56 , 66 –81, 85 , 99

demographic data for, 72

description of males of, 7

diet composition of, 106 –107

differences from the northern species, 4 –9

dive patterns of, 259 , chapters 14 and 20 passim

diving behavior of, 253 –269

dominance hierarchy in, 16

endocrine changes in newborns, 387 –396

energy of foraging in, 105 –106

energy of growth in, 104

energy of molt in, 104

energy utilization in, 103 –107, 354 –372

estimated population of, in 1990, 58

explanation of population trends for, 73 –79

explanations of behavior of, 66

female molt in, 363 –364

food consumption in, 99

foraging areas of, 78 , 255 –257

history and present status of, 49 –63

hunting of, 66 –67

land cycle of, 9 , 13 –14

main stocks of, 49 , 50 –51

male reproduction in, 362 –363

at Marion Island, 85 –94

mean dive duration and depth for, 266

population biology studies of, 72

pup mortality in, 18

reproductive season and annual cycle of, 356

in South Georgia, 98 –114

status of, in the Southern Ocean, 70 –71

threat call of males of, 8

time at sea of, 15

total world population of, 49

South Farallon Islands colony, 38

survey of, 42 –43

South Georgia Island, 49 , 50 –51, 52 –58

biomass and energy consumption at, 98 –114

decline in population at, 68

demographic data about, 72

first-year survival at, 72

harem organization on, 363

managed exploitation at, 77

numbers breeding at, 356

nutritional status of cows at, 93

population parameters at, 100


413

post-year 1 survival curve for, 74

pup mortality at, 18

sealing at, 51 –52

South Orkney Islands, 4 , 50

population in, 57

South Sandwich Islands, 50

population in, 57

South Shetland Islands, 50

haul out at, 13

South transits, 292

Species

developmental differences among, 8

differences and similarities among, 4 –9

Speed changes, during dive segments, 333

Sperm whales, dive depths of, 311

Squid.

See also Prey

biomass consumed, 110 –111, 112

as a component of diet, 105 , 307

Standard metabolic rate (SMR), 103

Standard seal length, 158 –159

Stewart, Brent S., xiii , 29 , 211 , 290

Stomach lavage, 212

Stomach samples, examination of, 106

Storms, pup mortality and, 131

Subadult males, mating success of, 200

Subadults, reproductive effort of, 197 –198

Sub-Antarctic fur seals, 69

Suckling, mean duration of, 103 –104. See also Nursing

Suckling pups, stealing of, 18

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 352

"Superweaners," 18 –19

Surface intervals (SIs), 313 , 317 . See also Diving of northern species females

Surface-seawater temperature (SST), 235

Surface swimming, 311

Survival, 55

age-specific, 86 , 90

annual, 100 –101

determining rates of, 133

of parous females, 140 –141

recording of rates of, 123

sex differences in, 122 –123

of weanlings, 126

Survival analysis, 141

Survival curves, post-year 1, 74

Survival/fecundity schedule, 92

Swim distances, calculation of, 330 –331

Swim speed

comparison of, 331 –332

of juveniles, 284

measurement of, 329 –330, 331

metabolism and, 329

in northern species females, 328 –337

reduced, 335 –336

Swim speed-distance meter (SSDM), 329 –330, 333

Sydeman, William J., 29 , 137

T

Tagged seals, movement patterns of, 39

Tagging, xi

of pups, 123

Tagging studies, at Marion Island, 85

Tag loss, 123 , 133

rates of, 86

Teeth, age estimates from, 54 , 81

Terrestrial habitat, 9

Thorson, Philip H., 271

Threat vocalizations, 8

Thyroid gland, in newborns, 391 –392

Time-depth recorders (TDRs), 87 , 227 , 235 , 247 , 254 , 275 –276, 310 , 312

deployment and recovery of, 255

technology of, 328

Time-depth-temperature recorders, 99

Total body gross energy (TBGE), 103 , 104

Total food consumed, estimates of, 114

Townsend, C. H., 31 , 32

Tracking studies, 63

Transit dives, 324 , 333

Transit velocities, comparison of, 332 –333

Translocation, homing and, 249 –250

Trauma-starvation syndrome, 18

Two-component logistic function, 154 , 161 , 162 –164

Type III survivorship curve, 128

U

Underwater survival, 344

V

Vancouver Island, 41

Variation

cohort, 126 –128

in dive parameters, 297

in dive patterns, 237 –251

individual, 145 –150

in reproductive effort, 169 –200

in reproductive success, 195 –196

in size, 356

in weaning success, 146

Vertically migrating prey, 218 –219, 306 –307

Virgin females, breeding of, 56 . See also Females

Vocalizations, male threat, 8


414

W

"Wallows," 364

Walruses, 2

Wandering albatrosses, 69

Weaner count

on Marion Island, 59

on Prince Edward Island, 60

Weaning

tagging at, xi

weight at, 359

Weaning mass, 202

effect on age-specific survival of, 128

maternal investment and, 188

Weaning success, 17 , 142

in relation to age, 172

variation in, 146

Weaning time, 17

Weanlings

fasting among, 19 , 375

isotope-labeled fuel metabolite studies in, 376

length classes of, 130

survival rates of, 126

weight classes of, 129

Weather patterns, effect on food resources of, 80

Weddell seals, 69

aerobic dive limit in, 285

dives of, 343

diving bouts of, 311

mass change in, 193 –194

metabolic cost of diving in, 351

metabolic requirements of, 269

metabolic studies on, 329

studies on, 344

Weight

effect on first-year survival of, 123

of weanlings, 128

Weight change

effects of, 370

implications for diving of, 370

of lactating females, 359

in newborns, 387

White sharks, predation by, 20 –21, 131 , 272

Wildlife Computers, 87 , 235 , 255

Wilkinson, Ian S., xiii , 85

Y

Year, effect on survival rates of, 126

Yearly growth rates, in males, 161 , 164 –165

Yochem, Pamela K., 29

Designer: U.C. Press Staff
Compositor: Asco Trade Typesetting Ltd.
Text: Baskerville 10/12
Display: Baskerville
Printer: BookCrafters, Inc.
Binder: BookCrafters, Inc.


 

Preferred Citation: Le Boeuf, Burney J., and Richard M. Laws, editors Elephant Seals: Population Ecology, Behavior, and Physiology. Berkeley:  University of California Press,  c1994 1994. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft7b69p131/