Temporal patterns of milk production in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella)

Arnould, J. P. Y.; Boyd, I. L.. 1995 Temporal patterns of milk production in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). Journal of Zoology, 237 (1). 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02741.x

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02741...

Abstract/Summary

The timing of milk production in Antarctic fur seals was studied at Bird Island, South Georgia. Like all lactating otariid seals (Pinnipedia: Otariidae), Antarctic fur seal females alternate between short nursing periods ashore and regular foraging trips to sea. Females do not necessarily return to the colony with full mammae, which indicates that mammary volume capacity is unlikely to limit foraging trip duration. Upon arrival at the colony, milk fat (r2= 0.33, P < 0.04) and protein (r2= 0.60, P < 0.002) content were positively correlated to the time spent at sea. A similar trend was observed in the milk produced on land. The rate of milk energy production was much lower at sea (5.02 ± 0.05 MJ day-1) than on land (23.66 ± 4.4 MJ-1 day-1). The rate of milk energy production during the foraging trip was negatively correlated to the time spent at sea (r2= 0.29, P < 0.05), whereas the rate of milk energy production on land was positively correlated (r2= 0.61, P < 0.001) to the duration of the preceding foraging trip. The total amount of milk energy delivered to the pup during each twoday nursing period was positively correlated (r2= 0.60, P < 0.002) to the duration of the previous foraging trip. The overall rate of milk energy delivery, however, was independent of foraging trip duration. This accords with previous observations that the growth rates of Antarctic fur seal pups are unaffected by maternal foraging trip duration patterns.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02741.x
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	09528369
Date made live:	06 Dec 2016 13:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/515402

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02741.x

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

09528369

Date made live:

06 Dec 2016 13:09 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/515402