Milk consumption, body composition and pre-weaning growth rates of Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) pups

被引:59
作者
Arnould, JPY [1 ]
Hindell, MA
机构
[1] Macquarie Univ, Grad Sch Environm, Marine Mammal Res Grp, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
[2] Univ Tasmania, Sch Zool, Anatarctic Wildlife Res Unit, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia
关键词
Australian fur seal; Arctocephalus; pinniped; lactation;
D O I
10.1017/S0952836902000389
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
Pre-weaning growth rates, body composition, milk consumption and mass gain efficiency were measured in Australian fur seal Aretocephalus pusillus doriferus pups born in two consecutive breeding periods. Australian fur seals have the highest birth mass of any fur seal species (male 8.3 kg; female 7.2 kg). While their absolute pre-weaning growth rate (male 62 g(.)day(-1); female 53 g(.)day(-1)) is similar to that of other temperate latitude fur seals, they have the longest birth-mass doubling time of any otariid species (134-136 days). Daily milk consumption increased from 400 g(.)day(-1) (5 MJ(.)day(-1)) after birth to 675 g(.)day(-1) (13.7 MJ(.)day(-1)) at age 210 day. However, mean mass-specific milk consumption (41 g(.)kg(-1)) is substantially lower than in other otariid species (58-70g(.)kg(-1)) and, combined with a low mass gain efficiency (0.12g(.)g(-1)), contributes to the low mass-specific growth rates observed. There were no significant differences in either absolute or mass-specific milk consumption between the sexes. Significant differences, however, were found between the sexes in the body composition of pups with females generally having larger body lipid stores than males for any given mass. Peak milk yield by Australian fur seal females is estimated at 0.60 MJkg(-0.75) substantially less than in Antarctic fur seals. The low level of maternal energy transfer in Australian fur seals may reflect the relatively low marine productivity of their foraging areas.
引用
收藏
页码:351 / 359
页数:9
相关论文
共 63 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], S ZOOLOGICAL SOC LON
[2]  
[Anonymous], STUDIES SEA MAMMALS
[3]  
[Anonymous], PINNIPEDS EL NINO
[4]  
Arnould John P. Y., 2000, Australian Mammalogy, V22, P51
[5]   Milk consumption and growth efficiency in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups [J].
Arnould, JPY ;
Boyd, IL ;
Socha, DG .
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE, 1996, 74 (02) :254-266
[6]   The composition of Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) milk throughout lactation [J].
Arnould, JPY ;
Hindell, MA .
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY, 1999, 72 (05) :605-612
[7]   Dive behaviour, foraging locations, and maternal-attendance patterns of Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) [J].
Arnould, JPY ;
Hindell, MA .
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE, 2001, 79 (01) :35-48
[8]   Lactation and the cost of pup-rearing in Antarctic fur seals [J].
Arnould, JPY .
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 1997, 13 (03) :516-526
[9]   Measuring the body composition of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella): Validation of hydrogen isotope dilution [J].
Arnould, JPY ;
Boyd, IL ;
Speakman, JR .
PHYSIOLOGICAL ZOOLOGY, 1996, 69 (01) :93-116
[10]  
BLAXTER KL, 1989, ENERGY METAB ANIMALS