Inferring Variation in Southern Elephant Seal At-Sea Mortality by Modelling Tag Failure

Elephant Seal Movements: Modelling Migration*

Elephant seals migrate over vast areas of the eastern North Pacific Ocean between rookeries in Southern California and distant northern foraging areas. Several models of particle movement were evaluated and a model for great circle motion found to give reasonable results for the movement of an adult female. This model takes specific account of the fact that the movement is on the surface of a s...

Growth of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (Linn.).

Molecular population genetics of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina.

Southern elephant seals breed on sub-Antarctic islands and have a circumpolar distribution. We assayed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) variation in the three main populations in the south Atlantic, south Indian, and south Pacific oceans, and a smaller continental population in South America. Population structure of mtDNA was strong and not consistent with isolation by distance....

Effects of sea-level rise on northern elephant seal breeding habitat at Point Reyes Peninsula, California

1. Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) historically experienced a significant population decrease to the brink of extinction owing to human exploitation, but have since recovered and recolonized former breeding/haul-out sites. Point Reyes Peninsula, California, is one location where population increase has resulted in colony expansion. 2. Initial models identified suitable breedin...

Seals at sea: modelling seal distribution in the German bight based on aerial survey data

The Wadden Sea is an important habitat for harbour seals and grey seals. They regularly haul-out on sandbanks and islands along the coast. Comparably little is known about the time seals spend at sea and how they use the remainder of the North Sea. Yet, human activity in offshore waters is increasing and information on seal distribution in the North Sea is crucial for conservation and managemen...