Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony
The study describes the annual cycle of southern elephant seals for the increasing colony of Península Valdés, and compares it to the haul-out pattern reported for stable or decreasing sub-Antarctic colonies of the species. Data were collected during censuses of the entire colony (nine breeding seas...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2004
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002020 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002020 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102004002020 2024-06-23T07:47:38+00:00 Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony LEWIS, M. CAMPAGNA, C. ZAVATTI, J. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002020 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002020 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 16, issue 3, page 219-226 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2004 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002020 2024-06-05T04:04:09Z The study describes the annual cycle of southern elephant seals for the increasing colony of Península Valdés, and compares it to the haul-out pattern reported for stable or decreasing sub-Antarctic colonies of the species. Data were collected during censuses of the entire colony (nine breeding seasons, two moulting seasons and one autumn–winter haul-out), monthly surveys of coastline and mark-recapture of pups. Pup production during the study period grew from 12 113 to 14 621 animals (1995–2003). Most relevant events of the cycle were similar for all colonies studied, independent of the geographical location, size or population trend. Compared with other locations where southern elephant seals breed and moult, distinct features for Península Valdés were: i) breeding occurs earlier in the spring, and ii) most adult females reproduce and moult in the same colony. The increasing number of animals ashore was correlated with the expansion in pup production. Population trends and stability of demographic events could be related to a consistent physical environment (ocean fronts) during foraging phases of the annual cycle. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals Cambridge University Press Antarctic Antarctic Science 16 3 219 226 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
The study describes the annual cycle of southern elephant seals for the increasing colony of Península Valdés, and compares it to the haul-out pattern reported for stable or decreasing sub-Antarctic colonies of the species. Data were collected during censuses of the entire colony (nine breeding seasons, two moulting seasons and one autumn–winter haul-out), monthly surveys of coastline and mark-recapture of pups. Pup production during the study period grew from 12 113 to 14 621 animals (1995–2003). Most relevant events of the cycle were similar for all colonies studied, independent of the geographical location, size or population trend. Compared with other locations where southern elephant seals breed and moult, distinct features for Península Valdés were: i) breeding occurs earlier in the spring, and ii) most adult females reproduce and moult in the same colony. The increasing number of animals ashore was correlated with the expansion in pup production. Population trends and stability of demographic events could be related to a consistent physical environment (ocean fronts) during foraging phases of the annual cycle. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
LEWIS, M. CAMPAGNA, C. ZAVATTI, J. |
spellingShingle |
LEWIS, M. CAMPAGNA, C. ZAVATTI, J. Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
author_facet |
LEWIS, M. CAMPAGNA, C. ZAVATTI, J. |
author_sort |
LEWIS, M. |
title |
Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
title_short |
Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
title_full |
Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
title_fullStr |
Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
title_full_unstemmed |
Annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
title_sort |
annual cycle and inter-annual variation in the haul-out pattern of an increasing southern elephant seal colony |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002020 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102004002020 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 16, issue 3, page 219-226 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102004002020 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
219 |
op_container_end_page |
226 |
_version_ |
1802651760543662080 |