Behavioral interactions between harbour seal mothers and pups during weaning (Pinnipeds: Phocidae)

Renouf, Deane; Diemand, Deborah

doi:10.1515/mamm.1984.48.1.53

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…This general pattern seems to hold true for both phocids (Fogden, 1971;LeBoeuf & Briggs, 1977;Christenson & LeBoeuf, 1978;Reiter, Stinson & LeBoeuf, 1978;Ronald & Dougan, 1982) and otariids (Bartholomew, 1959;Sandegren, 1970). Earlier studies of harbour seals indicated the contrary, suggesting that either weaning was sudden (Renouf et al, 1983;Renouf & Diemand, 1984) or that the mother was responsible for maintaining nursing and the pup weaned itself (Finch, 1966;Wilson, 1974). The results of this study, however, support Lawson's (1983;Lawson & Renouf, 1987) suggestion that harbour seals follow the same strategy exhibited by phocids and other mammals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finch (1966) and 29 1 0 1993 The Zoological Society of London Wilson (1 974) suggested that harbour seal mothers were primarily responsible for maintaining the pair bond, and that pups weaned themselves. Studies by Renouf & Diemand (1984) and Renouf el af. (1983) concluded that the pup was the pair member responsible for maintaining intrapair distance, although they detected no change in the relationship with pup age, and also suggested that weaning was abrupt.…”

Section: In Troduetionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex differences in the nursing relationship between mothers and pups in the Atlantic harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor

Rosen¹,

Renouf²

1993

Journal of Zoology

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Sex differences in the dynamics of the relationship between harbour seal mothers and their pups were investigated. An index of pair proximity governance suggested that pups became increasingly responsible for maintaining the distance between the pair over the course of the nursing period. Male pups demonstrated a stronger tendency to control initiation distance than female pups. A Nursing Index utilizing suckling bout initiations and terminations revealed that, as weaning approached, pups became progressively more responsible for the continuance of nursing. Male pups exhibited more control than female pups, primarily through initiating a greater portion of the bouts. On‐teat times averaged 4.08 min per bout, with no significant differences between male and female pups. Male pups, however. nursed a greater portion of haul‐out time due to higher bout frequencies obtained through more bout initiations. Mothers did not preferentially reject attempts to nurse by pups of either sex. These results suggest that the tenet of parental investment theory suggesting male pups enjoy preferential investment may be misleading. In harbour seals. male pups seem actively to seek out resources, as opposed to any inherent strategy on the par1 of the mother.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: In Troduetionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in the nursing relationship between mothers and pups in the Atlantic harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor

Rosen¹,

Renouf²

1993

Journal of Zoology

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“…These species include the harbour seal Phoca vitulina, the monk seals and the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii. Harbour seals give birth on tidally exposed rocks through most of their distribution, so pups are usually forced to swim upon the first high tide following their birth (Renouf et al 1983, Renouf & Diemand 1984. It is not known if harbour seals pups actively dive or if they simply remain at the surface while their mothers dive, but they certainly swim when they are very young.…”

Section: Behavioural Characteristics Of Neonatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour and energetics of ice-breeding, North Atlantic phocid seals during the lactation period

Lydersen¹,

Kovacs²

1999

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

141

122

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ABSTRACT. This review presents a comparative analysis of the behaviour and energetics of the icebreeding phocid seals of the North Atlantic in relation to their habitat(s). In very broad terms, it suggests that the term 'ice-breeding' is too simplistic and may lead to misconceptions about the actual degree of variability that exists in the breeding habitats of seals that do not give birth on land The variation that exists within ice habitats is quite remarkable in terms of: temporal and structural stability of the pupping platform; the degree to which animals have access to the water; the nsk of predation; and perhaps also the local availability of food. These factors all appear to influence the behaviour of mothers and pups and the allocation of energy during the lactation period of the species studied. Two basically different nursing strategies can be identified that may have evolved, at least in part, as a consequence of variation in these variables. The pattern displayed by grey (Halichoerus grypus), harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded (Cystophora crjstata) seals involves a short lactation period, during which a large amount of energy is transferred from the mother to the pup through extremely-energy-rich milk. Pups of these species are very inactive and consequently a very high proportion of the received energy can be stored as body tissue, mainly in the form of subcutaneous blubber. The mothers generally feed little or not at all during the nursing period and the pups are weaned abruptly, having not yet entered the water in most cases. The other strategy, found in bearded (Erignathus barbatus) and ringed (Phoca I~ispida) seals, involves a longer lactation penod, where less-energy-rich milk is transferred to very active pups These pups learn to swim and dive during the nursing period, and are weaned with body compositions that are similar to those of adults The mothers feed during lactation and weaning is less abrupt, with pups feeding independently, while still receiving milk from their mothers.

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“…Despite haulouts being interrupted, the proportion of time spent hauled out was higher over low-tide periods when disturbance trials were implemented compared with during the immediately preceding and following low-tide periods. Harbour seal pups primarily suckle while on land (Renouf & Diemand, 1984), and where haulout sites are only tidally available there is a limited amount of time during which suckling events can occur (Reijnders, 1981). However, it does not seem that this was linked to seals spending a higher proportion of time hauled out over consecutive low-tide periods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Being disturbed into the water may be particularly important for pups that risk hypothermia due to lower insulation compared with adults. Harbour seal pups primarily suckle while on land (Renouf & Diemand, 1984), and where haulout sites are only tidally available there is a limited amount of time during which suckling events can occur (Reijnders, 1981). If the frequency with which mother-pup pairs are forced into the water is sufficiently high then this could have energetic consequences for pups (Jansen et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐disturbance haulout behaviour of harbour seals

Paterson

Russell

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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1. The impact of anthropogenic activity associated with marine renewable developments on harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) was investigated using controlled disturbance trials.2. Hauled-out seals were approached by boat until all seals had entered the water, and this was repeated approximately every 3 days (weather permitting). The time taken for seal counts to return to pre-disturbance levels was determined by monitoring haulout sites using time-lapse photography.3. Mean post-disturbance counts of hauled-out seals returned to 52% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35-69%) of pre-disturbance counts within 30 min. However, mean counts only returned to 94% (95% CI 55-132%) of pre-disturbance counts after 4 hr.4. Eight seals were tagged with Global Positioning System phone tags to provide information on haulout location and at-sea movements, allowing investigation of how disturbance may influence haulout site choice and seal distribution.5. Telemetry-tagged seals displayed a high degree of haulout site fidelity. Disturbance trials did not have a significant effect on the probability of seals moving to a different haulout site.6. When seals hauled out again within the same low-tide period after disturbance trials, the proportion of time spent hauled out was high, indicating that when seals are motivated to haul out they will do so despite past disturbance. Motivation to haul out more on disturbance trial days was not linked to a cyclic pattern of hauling out more over consecutive low-tide periods. 7. As there was no large-scale redistribution after disturbance, we suggest that monitoring effort to determine the effects of short-term increases in levels of disturbance caused by boat activity can be spatially localized. However, where disturbance is likely to be longer term or impact on important haulout sites for breeding and/or moulting, monitoring may be required over a larger geographical area.

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Behavioral interactions between harbour seal mothers and pups during weaning (Pinnipeds: Phocidae)

Cited by 15 publications

References 3 publications

Sex differences in the nursing relationship between mothers and pups in the Atlantic harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor

Sex differences in the nursing relationship between mothers and pups in the Atlantic harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor

Behaviour and energetics of ice-breeding, North Atlantic phocid seals during the lactation period

Post‐disturbance haulout behaviour of harbour seals

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