Long-term reproductive patterns and sighting bias in Weddell seals ( Leptonychotes weddelli )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Testa, J. Ward
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1987
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; McMurdo Sound; Weddell; Signy Island; Antarc*; Antarctica; Leptonychotes weddelli; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z87-173; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z87-173

The reproductive performance of tagged Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) was monitored at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, from 1970 to 1984. An age-specific reproductive schedule revealed the major onset of pupping at age 6 years, and a mean age of first birth of 7.1 years. The average asymptotic pu...