PUP PRODUCTION OF HARP SEALS, PHOCA-GROENLANDICA, IN THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC

• Main Authors: STENSON, GB, MYERS, RA, HAMMILL, MO, NI, IH, WARREN, WG, KINGSLEY, MCS
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Magdalen; Harp Seal; Newfoundland; Northwest Atlantic; Phoca groenlandica
• Online Access: http://repository.ust.hk/ir/Record/1783.1-10415; http://lbdiscover.ust.hk/uresolver?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rfr_id=info:sid/HKUST:SPI&rft.genre=article&rft.issn=0706-652X&rft.volume=50&rft.issue=11&rft.date=1993&rft.spage=2429&rft.epage=2439&rft.aulast=STENSON&rft.aufirst=GB&rft.atitle=PUP+PRODUCTION+OF+HARP+SEALS,+PHOCA-GROENLANDICA,+IN+THE+NORTHWEST+ATLANTIC; http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS&KeyUT=A1993MZ45600015

Northwest Atlantic harp seal, Phoca groenlandica, pup production was estimated from aerial surveys flown off eastern Newfoundland (''Front'') and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (''Gulf'') during March 1990. One visual and two independent photographic estimates were obtained at the Front; a single photographic estimate was obtained in the Gulf. Photographic estimates were corrected form is identified pups by comparing black-and-white photographs with ultraviolet imagery. Estimates were also corrected for pups absent from the ice at the time of the survey using distinct age-related developmental stages. Stage durations in the Gulf appeared consistent with previous studies but were increased by 30\% to improve the fit to staging data collected at the Front. The best estimate of pup production at the Front was obtained from the visual surveys. A total of 467 000 (SE = 31 000) pups were born in three whelping concentrations. The photographic estimates were comparable. Pup production estimates for the southern (Magdalen Island) and northern (Mecatina) Gulf whelping patches were 106 000 (SE = 23 000) and 4 400 (SE = 1300), respectively. Thus, total pup production was estimated to be 578 000 (SE = 39 000).