First independent feeding of harp seal ( Phoca groenlandica ) and hooded seal ( Cystophora cristata ) pups in the Greenland Sea

Data were collected from harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups belonging to the Greenland Sea (or "West Ice") stocks in 1995-1997. Pups of both species were observed to feed independently shortly after weaning, and their first food was almost exclusively...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NAMMCO Scientific Publications
Main Authors: Tore Haug, Kjell T Nilssen, Lotta Lindblom
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2000
Subjects:
harp seals
Phoca groenlandica
hooded seals
Cystophora cristata
feeding
pups
prey
Ecology
QH540-549.5
Greenland
Greenland Sea
Harp Seal
hooded seal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.7557/3.2969
https://doaj.org/article/5a92347abd5a49daa02cf929c8c6422c
Description
Summary:Data were collected from harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups belonging to the Greenland Sea (or "West Ice") stocks in 1995-1997. Pups of both species were observed to feed independently shortly after weaning, and their first food was almost exclusively crustaceans. Parathemisto sp., particularly P. libellula, dominated the diet of both the harp and the hooded seal pups, but the diet also contained sympagic amphipods of the genus Gammarus. Krill (Thysanoessa sp.) was of minor importance as food for seal pups in 1995, but occurred more frequently in the diet of both species in 1996 and 1997. Considerable niche overlap may suggest some interspecific competition between harp and hooded seal pups in the West Ice.

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