Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris).
All organisms face resource limitations that will ultimately restrict population growth, but the controlling mechanisms vary across ecosystems, taxa, and reproductive strategies. Using four decades of data, we examine how variation in the environment and population density affect reproductive outcom...
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2021
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org/ark:/13030/qt1qf9177k 2023-05-15T16:05:12+02:00 Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Holser, Rachel R Crocker, Daniel E Robinson, Patrick W Condit, Richard Costa, Daniel P 20211258 2021-10-13 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1qf9177k unknown eScholarship, University of California qt1qf9177k https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1qf9177k public Proceedings. Biological sciences, vol 288, iss 1960 animals environment lactation life-history mammals pinnipeds Contraception/Reproduction Reproductive health and childbirth Biological Sciences Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Medical and Health Sciences article 2021 ftcdlib 2021-11-08T18:17:00Z All organisms face resource limitations that will ultimately restrict population growth, but the controlling mechanisms vary across ecosystems, taxa, and reproductive strategies. Using four decades of data, we examine how variation in the environment and population density affect reproductive outcomes in a capital-breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). This species provides a unique opportunity to examine the relative importance of resource acquisition and density-dependence on breeding success. Capital breeders accrue resources over large temporal and spatial scales for use during an abbreviated reproductive period. This strategy may have evolved, in part, to confer resilience to short-term environmental variability. We observed density-dependent effects on weaning mass, and maternal age (experience) was more important than oceanographic conditions or maternal mass in determining offspring weaning mass. Together these findings show that the mechanisms controlling reproductive output are conserved across terrestrial and marine systems and vary with population dynamics, an important consideration when assessing the effect of extrinsic changes, such as climate change, on a population. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seal University of California: eScholarship |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
unknown |
topic |
animals environment lactation life-history mammals pinnipeds Contraception/Reproduction Reproductive health and childbirth Biological Sciences Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Medical and Health Sciences |
spellingShingle |
animals environment lactation life-history mammals pinnipeds Contraception/Reproduction Reproductive health and childbirth Biological Sciences Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Medical and Health Sciences Holser, Rachel R Crocker, Daniel E Robinson, Patrick W Condit, Richard Costa, Daniel P Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
topic_facet |
animals environment lactation life-history mammals pinnipeds Contraception/Reproduction Reproductive health and childbirth Biological Sciences Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Medical and Health Sciences |
description |
All organisms face resource limitations that will ultimately restrict population growth, but the controlling mechanisms vary across ecosystems, taxa, and reproductive strategies. Using four decades of data, we examine how variation in the environment and population density affect reproductive outcomes in a capital-breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). This species provides a unique opportunity to examine the relative importance of resource acquisition and density-dependence on breeding success. Capital breeders accrue resources over large temporal and spatial scales for use during an abbreviated reproductive period. This strategy may have evolved, in part, to confer resilience to short-term environmental variability. We observed density-dependent effects on weaning mass, and maternal age (experience) was more important than oceanographic conditions or maternal mass in determining offspring weaning mass. Together these findings show that the mechanisms controlling reproductive output are conserved across terrestrial and marine systems and vary with population dynamics, an important consideration when assessing the effect of extrinsic changes, such as climate change, on a population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Holser, Rachel R Crocker, Daniel E Robinson, Patrick W Condit, Richard Costa, Daniel P |
author_facet |
Holser, Rachel R Crocker, Daniel E Robinson, Patrick W Condit, Richard Costa, Daniel P |
author_sort |
Holser, Rachel R |
title |
Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
title_short |
Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
title_full |
Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
title_fullStr |
Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
title_full_unstemmed |
Density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). |
title_sort |
density-dependent effects on reproductive output in a capital breeding carnivore, the northern elephant seal (mirounga angustirostris). |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1qf9177k |
op_coverage |
20211258 |
genre |
Elephant Seal |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal |
op_source |
Proceedings. Biological sciences, vol 288, iss 1960 |
op_relation |
qt1qf9177k https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1qf9177k |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1766401090466611200 |