Weaning mass and the future survival of juvenile southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: McMahon, Clive R., Burton, Harry R., Bester, Marthán N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2000
• Subjects: Antarctic Science; Elephant Seals; Macquarie Island; Mirounga leonina; Southern Elephant Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102000000195; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102000000195

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.