Weaning mass and the future survival of juvenile southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island
Seals that survived their first year were on average 2% and 4% heavier at birth and at weaning than the “non-survivors”. First year survival rates calculated for weaners over 135 kg weaning masses showed these weaners had higher survival rates than those less than 95 kg at weaning (71.55% and 54.15%...
| Published in: | Antarctic Science |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2000
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102000000195 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102000000195 |
| Summary: | Seals that survived their first year were on average 2% and 4% heavier at birth and at weaning than the “non-survivors”. First year survival rates calculated for weaners over 135 kg weaning masses showed these weaners had higher survival rates than those less than 95 kg at weaning (71.55% and 54.15% respectively). Heavy weaners had greater fat reserves than light weaners and gained relatively more mass during lactation. Size, and therefore condition at weaning, influences first year survival. |
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