The energetics of lactation: accurate measurements from a large wild mammal, the Grey seal (<i>Halichoerus grypus</i>)

Fedak, Michael A.; Anderson, Sheila

doi:10.1111/jzo.1982.198.4.473

Cited by 225 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, they do show that the smallest, youngest females had the lowest pupping success rates. Smaller females (in terms of length and relative mass) breed later in the season (Fedak & Anderson 1982, Pomeroy et al 1999. Here, our data suggest an additional spatial difference, at least during the early season period, with many smaller females selecting (or being forced to select) less topographically suitable sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in offspring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus

Twiss¹,

Caudron

Pomeroy

et al. 2000

Animal Behaviour

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(2000) 'Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in o spring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus.', Animal behaviour., 59 (2). pp. 327-338. Further information on publisher's website:http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1999.1320 Publisher's copyright statement: This is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Animal Behaviour. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be re ected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A de nitive version was subsequently published in Animal Behaviour, 2000Behaviour, , 59, 2, 327 338, doi: 10.1006Behaviour, /anbe.1999Behaviour, .1320 Additional information: Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. ABSTRACTGrey seals breed colonially on substrates ranging from ice to rocky or sandy beaches. Clear differences in seal behaviour patterns exist among such broad classes of breeding habitat.However, finer scale topographic variation is likely to influence individual behaviour with consequences for pupping success. We examine topographic influences on breeding female grey seal behaviour by quantifying topography at a sub-seal size resolution. Using sub-metre resolution Digital Terrain Models of two sites within a rocky breeding colony we compare site topography in relation to observed differences in female behaviour at these sites. Females at both sites showed a preference for breeding close to water (standing pools or sea) and frequently commuted between their pups and water. Topographic models indicated that one site was more costly for seals in terms of their locations and movements within the site. This was due to a lack of low elevation land adjacent to the main access points from the sea and the reduced availability of pools. Females at this site showed reduced pup attendance and an increase in energetically costly behaviours, whilst females at the lower cost site spent more time interacting with their pups and resting. These topographically induced behavioural differences are likely to affect the quantity and quality of pup provisioning by mothers and influence individual pupping site selection. Less costly sites are likely to be colonised preferentially and by larger, older and more dominant females, potentially generating fine scale spatial heterogeneity in female quality within the breeding colony.Whilst it may be obvious that topography is likely to...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in offspring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus

Twiss¹,

Caudron

Pomeroy

et al. 2000

Animal Behaviour

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“…Offspring survivorship is difficult for adults to predict at the time of mating because reproductive effort must be committed several months prior to birth. The costs of lactation are typically greater than those of pregnancy (Randolph et al 1977;Fedak & Anderson 1982). If conditions are not favourable for rearing offspring several months after conception, female carnivores may terminate reproduction in order to avoid the cost of lactation and ensure their own survival (see Goodman 1974).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shift in red fox, Vulpes vulpes, mating system associated with El Niño in the Bering Sea

1989

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“…The daily rates of energy transfer are most spectacular in some marine mammals where females lactate intensively for relatively brief periods (four weeks or less), fast from food and water during lactation, produce energy-rich milk with high fat content, and wean their pups abruptly (see Fedak and Anderson, 1982;Bonner, 1984;Ortiz et al, 1984;Costa and Gentry, 1986). Prior to weaning, the sole source of nutrients for the developing pup is mother's milk.…”

Section: Lactationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Allocation in Mammalian Reproduction

Gittleman

Thompson

1988

Am Zool

739

523

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SYNOPSIS. On behavioral, hormonal, and physiological grounds, mammalian reproduction can be compartmentalized into the following continuous sequence of events: mating (courtship, estrous), gestation, parturition, lactation, post-lactational parental care, and maternal recovery. We point out that comparing the relative allocation of energy for these events across mammals is difficult because of life history variability (e.g., litter size, birth weight), allometry, phylogeny, and individual variation. We review the empirical and theoretical literature on each of these events with respect to: different methodologies in measuring energy use; broad patterns of energy consumption across diverse mammalian taxa; and, identification of particular reproductive characteristics {e.g., birthing, parental care) which may be costly but have yet to receive energetic measurements. Although most studies have considered gestation and lactation the critical reproductive events for energy expenditure, variation in these events is substantial and almost certainly is a function of relative allocation of time to gestation vs. lactation as well as the presumed energetic costs of mating, birthing and parental care. In addition, repeated observations show that behavioral compensation is an extremely important strategy for minimizing energy requirements during reproduction. From this review, we argue that more complete analyses will come from (1) incorporating energetic measurements in studies of mammalian behavior and (2) including mechanisms of behavioral compensation into physiological studies.

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The energetics of lactation: accurate measurements from a large wild mammal, the Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Cited by 225 publications

References 18 publications

Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in offspring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus

Finescale topographical correlates of behavioural investment in offspring by female grey seals, Halichoerus grypus

Shift in red fox, Vulpes vulpes, mating system associated with El Niño in the Bering Sea

Energy Allocation in Mammalian Reproduction

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