REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE ANTARCTIC FUR SEALS - THE INFLUENCE OF AGE, BREEDING EXPERIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION AND INDIVIDUAL QUALITY

被引:150
作者
LUNN, NJ
BOYD, IL
CROXALL, JP
机构
关键词
AGE; ENVIRONMENT; EXPERIENCE; FUR SEAL; REPRODUCTION;
D O I
10.2307/5260
中图分类号
Q14 [生态学(生物生态学)];
学科分类号
071012 ; 0713 ;
摘要
1. The reproductive performance of female Antarctic fur seals was examined in relation to age, reproductive experience and environmental variation over 10 consecutive years (1983-92) at Bird Island, South Georgia. 2. The age at which females first gave birth varied from 3 to 6 years; over 90% of these females were 3 or 4 years of age. We found no evidence to suggest that age at primiparity had significant effects on subsequent reproduction; however, 3-year-old primiparae were less likely to be seen in subsequent years than 4-year-old primparae which may indicate a cost, in terms of survival, for females that first give birth at an early age. 3. Age-specific reproductive rates increased rapidly from ages 2 to 6 years, reached a peak of 0.80 at 7-9 years, remained above 0.75 until 11 years and then began to decline with increasing age. 4. The mean duration of foraging trips in the current year (which was used as a measure of the availability of food resources) consistently improved models of the likelihood of pupping and of weaning success. When these trips were long (indicating reduced local food resources), females returned to the breeding beaches later, fewer females pupped, they gave birth to lighter pups and weaning success was reduced. 5. The reproductive performance of older, experienced Antarctic fur seals was greater than that of younger, inexperienced animals because they had higher natality rates, gave birth to heavier pups earlier in the season, had greater weaning success and were more likely to pup the next season.
引用
收藏
页码:827 / 840
页数:14
相关论文
共 81 条
[1]   FERTILITY IN FEMALE RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS) - THE EFFECTS OF BODY-COMPOSITION, AGE AND REPRODUCTIVE STATUS [J].
ALBON, SD ;
MITCHELL, B ;
HUBY, BJ ;
BROWN, D .
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 1986, 209 :447-460
[2]   EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND POPULATION-DYNAMICS IN RED DEER .2. DENSITY-INDEPENDENT EFFECTS AND COHORT VARIATION [J].
ALBON, SD ;
CLUTTONBROCK, TH ;
GUINNESS, FE .
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, 1987, 56 (01) :69-81
[3]  
ALTMANN J, 1988, P NAT ACAD SCI, P403
[4]   GRAY SEAL, HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS, ENERGETICS - FEMALES INVEST MORE IN MALE OFFSPRING [J].
ANDERSON, SS ;
FEDAK, MA .
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 1987, 211 :667-679
[5]   MORTALITY IN GREY SEAL PUPS - INCIDENCE AND CAUSES [J].
ANDERSON, SS ;
BAKER, JR ;
PRIME, JH ;
BAIRD, A .
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 1979, 189 (NOV) :407-417
[6]   AGING LIVE ANTARCTIC FUR SEALS AND SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS [J].
ARNBOM, TA ;
LUNN, NJ ;
BOYD, IL ;
BARTON, T .
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 1992, 8 (01) :37-43
[7]   REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN FEMALE MOUNTAIN GOATS [J].
BAILEY, JA .
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE, 1991, 69 (12) :2956-2961
[8]   STIMULI FOR PARTURITION IN NORTHERN FUR SEALS (CALLORHINUS-URSINUS) [J].
BIGG, MA .
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY, 1984, 65 (02) :333-336
[9]  
BONNER WN, 1968, 56 BRIT ANT SURV SCI
[10]  
BONNER WN, 1984, S ZOOL SOC LONDON, V51, P253