Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004
Abstract Samples were collected in Svalbard, Norway, during April and May 2002–2004 from 272 ringed seals (Pusa hispida; 62.5% males, 37.5% females) to study growth and population parameters. The age of the animals ranged from 1 to 32 years. Asymptotic values for standard length and body mass were 1...
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croxfordunivpr:10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001 2023-11-05T03:39:56+01:00 Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 Krafft, Bjørn A. Kovacs, Kit M. Frie, Anne Kirstine Haug, Tore Lydersen, Christian 2006 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/63/6/1136/29126444/63-6-1136.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 63, issue 6, page 1136-1144 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography journal-article 2006 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001 2023-10-06T10:38:11Z Abstract Samples were collected in Svalbard, Norway, during April and May 2002–2004 from 272 ringed seals (Pusa hispida; 62.5% males, 37.5% females) to study growth and population parameters. The age of the animals ranged from 1 to 32 years. Asymptotic values for standard length and body mass were 127.7 ± 1.6 (s.e.) cm and 69.0 ± 2.7 kg for males (maxima: 144 cm and 92 kg) and 127.6 ± 2.3 cm and 68.9 ± 2.5 kg for females (maxima: 141 cm and 91 kg). All animals were sexually mature at an age ≥6 years and the ovulation rate was 0.86. Mean Age at Maturity (MAM) was 4.2 ± 0.2 years for males and 3.5 ± 0.3 years for females, values significantly lower than calculated for ringed seals from the same area 20 years ago. This change in MAM suggests that either the prey base for ringed seals in the area has increased or alternatively that the density of ringed seals has declined, such that more resources are available per capita. If the climate of the Arctic changes in the manner predicted by a host of climate-change scenarios, it is likely to have a strong impact on ringed seal populations in future, although there are no data to suggest that dramatic changes have taken place yet in fish and invertebrate populations in the Svalbard area. Although cause-and-effect cannot be firmly established, there is a possibility that the substantial increase in the number of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) over the past 20 years, since hunting the species in Svalbard ceased in 1973, may have played a role in the observed change in the ringed seal population. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change Pusa hispida ringed seal Svalbard Ursus maritimus Oxford University Press (via Crossref) ICES Journal of Marine Science 63 6 1136 1144 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography Krafft, Bjørn A. Kovacs, Kit M. Frie, Anne Kirstine Haug, Tore Lydersen, Christian Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
topic_facet |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
description |
Abstract Samples were collected in Svalbard, Norway, during April and May 2002–2004 from 272 ringed seals (Pusa hispida; 62.5% males, 37.5% females) to study growth and population parameters. The age of the animals ranged from 1 to 32 years. Asymptotic values for standard length and body mass were 127.7 ± 1.6 (s.e.) cm and 69.0 ± 2.7 kg for males (maxima: 144 cm and 92 kg) and 127.6 ± 2.3 cm and 68.9 ± 2.5 kg for females (maxima: 141 cm and 91 kg). All animals were sexually mature at an age ≥6 years and the ovulation rate was 0.86. Mean Age at Maturity (MAM) was 4.2 ± 0.2 years for males and 3.5 ± 0.3 years for females, values significantly lower than calculated for ringed seals from the same area 20 years ago. This change in MAM suggests that either the prey base for ringed seals in the area has increased or alternatively that the density of ringed seals has declined, such that more resources are available per capita. If the climate of the Arctic changes in the manner predicted by a host of climate-change scenarios, it is likely to have a strong impact on ringed seal populations in future, although there are no data to suggest that dramatic changes have taken place yet in fish and invertebrate populations in the Svalbard area. Although cause-and-effect cannot be firmly established, there is a possibility that the substantial increase in the number of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) over the past 20 years, since hunting the species in Svalbard ceased in 1973, may have played a role in the observed change in the ringed seal population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Krafft, Bjørn A. Kovacs, Kit M. Frie, Anne Kirstine Haug, Tore Lydersen, Christian |
author_facet |
Krafft, Bjørn A. Kovacs, Kit M. Frie, Anne Kirstine Haug, Tore Lydersen, Christian |
author_sort |
Krafft, Bjørn A. |
title |
Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
title_short |
Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
title_full |
Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
title_fullStr |
Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Growth and population parameters of ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Svalbard, Norway, 2002–2004 |
title_sort |
growth and population parameters of ringed seals (pusa hispida) from svalbard, norway, 2002–2004 |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/63/6/1136/29126444/63-6-1136.pdf |
genre |
Arctic Climate change Pusa hispida ringed seal Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change Pusa hispida ringed seal Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 63, issue 6, page 1136-1144 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.04.001 |
container_title |
ICES Journal of Marine Science |
container_volume |
63 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
1136 |
op_container_end_page |
1144 |
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1781695869211377664 |