Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina )
The harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) has delayed implantation, precise annual birth timing, and significant latitudinal variation in birth timing. The birth timing patterns of four distinct groups of seals, including colonies of P. v. vitulina and colonies and captive individuals of P. v. richardsi ,...
Published in: | Journal of Zoology |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
1994
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x |
id |
crwiley:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x 2024-04-28T08:23:02+00:00 Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) Temte, Jonathan L. 1994 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Zoology volume 233, issue 3, page 369-384 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1994 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x 2024-04-05T07:41:21Z The harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) has delayed implantation, precise annual birth timing, and significant latitudinal variation in birth timing. The birth timing patterns of four distinct groups of seals, including colonies of P. v. vitulina and colonies and captive individuals of P. v. richardsi , were examined using population‐based photoperiod analysis to assess the role of photoperiod in setting annual birth timing. This analysis simultaneously determined the time, relative to birth, at which photoperiod response was likely to occur and the critical photoperiod. Despite marked differences in birth timing patterns, a high level of agreement was found among groups for the timing of photoperiod response. The two subspecies, however, demonstrated significantly divergent critical photoperiods. Eastern Atlantic harbour seals were exposed to a common critical photoperiod of 11.7 h/day on the 268th pre‐partum day. Wild Pacific harbour seals were exposed to 14.3 h/day on the 283rd pre‐partum day. These times corresponded to the estimated occurrence of blastocyst implantation. Using the above information, three small captive populations were subjected to artificially prolonged photoperiods during the period of embryonic diapause to test whether subsequent birth timing could be delayed. Technical difficulties invalidated results at two sites. At the third and largest colony, the mean pupping date of six individuals was significantly delayed by 10.7days. The precision and latitudinal variation of annual birth timing in the harbour seal are due to a response to photoperiod which occurs immediately prior to blastocyst implantation. The critical photoperiod, however, is divergent among subspecies and, thus, has probably evolved allowing seasonal adaptation. Similar environmental signalling has been described for California sea lions and northern fur seals and represents the likely timing mechanism for most pinniped species. Article in Journal/Newspaper harbour seal Phoca vitulina Wiley Online Library Journal of Zoology 233 3 369 384 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Temte, Jonathan L. Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
The harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) has delayed implantation, precise annual birth timing, and significant latitudinal variation in birth timing. The birth timing patterns of four distinct groups of seals, including colonies of P. v. vitulina and colonies and captive individuals of P. v. richardsi , were examined using population‐based photoperiod analysis to assess the role of photoperiod in setting annual birth timing. This analysis simultaneously determined the time, relative to birth, at which photoperiod response was likely to occur and the critical photoperiod. Despite marked differences in birth timing patterns, a high level of agreement was found among groups for the timing of photoperiod response. The two subspecies, however, demonstrated significantly divergent critical photoperiods. Eastern Atlantic harbour seals were exposed to a common critical photoperiod of 11.7 h/day on the 268th pre‐partum day. Wild Pacific harbour seals were exposed to 14.3 h/day on the 283rd pre‐partum day. These times corresponded to the estimated occurrence of blastocyst implantation. Using the above information, three small captive populations were subjected to artificially prolonged photoperiods during the period of embryonic diapause to test whether subsequent birth timing could be delayed. Technical difficulties invalidated results at two sites. At the third and largest colony, the mean pupping date of six individuals was significantly delayed by 10.7days. The precision and latitudinal variation of annual birth timing in the harbour seal are due to a response to photoperiod which occurs immediately prior to blastocyst implantation. The critical photoperiod, however, is divergent among subspecies and, thus, has probably evolved allowing seasonal adaptation. Similar environmental signalling has been described for California sea lions and northern fur seals and represents the likely timing mechanism for most pinniped species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Temte, Jonathan L. |
author_facet |
Temte, Jonathan L. |
author_sort |
Temte, Jonathan L. |
title |
Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_short |
Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_full |
Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_fullStr |
Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_sort |
photoperiod control of birth timing in the harbour seal ( phoca vitulina ) |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
1994 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x |
genre |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbour seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Journal of Zoology volume 233, issue 3, page 369-384 ISSN 0952-8369 1469-7998 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05271.x |
container_title |
Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
233 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
369 |
op_container_end_page |
384 |
_version_ |
1797584261237178368 |