Northern fur seal reproductive rates and early maternal care

• Main Author: Kunisch, E. (Erin)
• Other Authors: Horning, Markus, Gelatt, Tom, Estill, Charles, Dugger, Katie, Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University. Graduate School
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Northern fur seal > Alaska > Pribilof Islands > Reproduction; Northern fur seal > Fertility > Alaska > Pribilof Islands; Bering Sea; Alaska; Callorhinus ursinus; Northern fur seal
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/5m60qv40s

The majority of the world's breeding population of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) is found on the Pribilof Islands (St. Paul and St. George) in the Bering Sea, Alaska. Pup production on these islands experienced an irregular but overall decline since the early 1970's. Between 1998 and 2010, pup production declined precipitously at an annual rate of 4.9% on the Pribilof Islands, and 5.5% on St. Paul Island. Specific reasons for this decline remain unknown, and contemporary estimates for many vital rate parameters including reproductive rates are unavailable. This study determined a contemporary estimate of natality and fertility rates, as well as reproductive timing on the Polovina Cliffs rookery of St. Paul Island during the 2008 (30 June-31 August) and 2009 (1 July-25 August) breeding seasons. Natality rate (defined as the number of pups born divided by the number of reproductively mature females) was determined from visual observations of parturition or associated maternal behavior in 208 and 217 individually marked females (via flipper tags) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Data yielded observed natality estimates of 0.79 in 2008 and 0.88 in 2009. The fertility rate (defined as the number of pups born divided by the total number of females present, irrespective of reproductive maturity/age) was determined for the 2008 breeding season only. This ratio of total pup to female counts was derived from adjusted daily cross-sectional counts conducted through the breeding season. Maximum pup and female counts were derived as asymptotes of sigmoid growth models fitted to corrected daily counts. Live pup counts were corrected for mortalities by estimates of cumulative pup mortalities. Daily counts of females present in the rookery were corrected for reduced detection probabilities resulting from increased maternal foraging trip durations through the season, typical of attendance patterns associated with colonial, income breeders. Daily detection probabilities for individually marked females were generated from ...