Comparing Sand Flipping of Elephant Seals between Sex and Age

• Main Authors: Alkazemi, Hasan, Choy, Jonathan, Tran, Lan
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholarly Commons 2012
• Subjects: Biology; Pacific; Piedras; Elephant Seals
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/purcc/2012/events/27

Abstract Text: Every winter northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) come ashore at several coastal and island sites on sandy shores of central and southern California and western Mexico to breed, give birth, and rear their pups to weaning. The adult male’s nose is a protruding proboscis, resembling the trunk of an elephant. While ashore, elephant seals frequently scoop sand with a backward motion of the front flippers and throw it onto themselves, an action known as sand flipping. We investigated age and sex differences among elephant seals in their frequencies performing this behavior at a breeding colony at Piedras Blancas California. The research builds upon previous studies conducted by other Pacific students during in 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons at Piedras Blancas.