Fecundity, survival and site fidelity in Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddelli

Croxall, J.P.; Hiby, L.. 1983 Fecundity, survival and site fidelity in Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddelli. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 20 (1). 19-32. https://doi.org/10.2307/2403373

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2403373

Abstract/Summary

Age-specific fecundity data are presented for 17 yr of tagging and recapture of Leptonychotes weddelli at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Minimum age of first pupping was 2 yr, mean age was 4-5 yr, and among females recaptured at age 9 yr and over 94% were with pups. Mean annual survival of females at Signy that have pupped once was 0.80. Breeding cows are not distributed independently of the location of their previous breeding sites. There is no indication that pups tend to return to breed at their natal site. Weddell seal and crabeater seal Lobodon carcinophagus population parameters are contrasted, and although diet may be important in establishing some differences in population structure and dynamics, juvenile mortality levels are probably also significant.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.2307/2403373
ISSN:	00218901
Date made live:	02 Jul 2019 10:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524111

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.2307/2403373

ISSN:

00218901

Date made live:

02 Jul 2019 10:42 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524111