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It's all relative: allometry and variation in the baculum (0s penis) of the harp seal, PagophiZus groenlandicus (Carnivora: Phocidae)We compared allometry and variation in the baculum (0s penis), mandible, and humerus of the harp seal, Pugophilus groenlandicus. This species is presumed to have a promiscuous mating system in which choice of mate by females during intromission with different males is likely. The baculum is large and grows throughout life so may be an honest indicator of males' quality (size) or viability (age). We predicted that bacular size would exhibit stronger allometry relative to body size than mandibles or humeri. The baculum is less functionally (mechanically) constrained than mandibles or humeri so we also predicted it would be more variable, though less variable than sexually selected traits which do not function as honest indicators. Our sample (N=67 seals) represented broad ranges of size and age (0-35 yr) so we compared variation using residuals from allometric regressions of skeletal measurements on body length. Bacular size was isometric to body length until -137 cm (when some seals enter puberty) in body length then was highly positively allometric; mandibular and humeral size were negatively allometric to body length throughout growth. Bacula were more variable than mandibles or humeri. Bacular size in large specimens (>137 cm in body length) was related strongly to body length and weakly t o age. We interpret bacular size to be an uncheatable honest indicator of male quality and viability. High bacular variation conforms with theoretical predictions of females' asymmetrical choice of mate and choice of extremes, and may reflect corresponding anatomical variation among females. Some bacular variation may also result incidentally from positive allometry coupled with lifelong bacular growth, which can amplify early differences between reproductive and somatic growth, enabled by weak selection on bacular form in relation to function.

This paper examines the representations of animals in advertisements on prime-time television in New Zealand as a route to explore the manner in which nonhuman animals are incorporated into our daily lives. The discussion is based on close reading of advertisements that draws attention to the everyday manipulation and representation of nonhuman subjects. In focusing on the seemingly banal medium of advertisements, we interrogate the subtle and less than subtle transformations of animal subjectivity and the manner in which these articulate broader discourses around gender and nature in relation to human and nonhuman agents. In this way, we highlight the critical nature of decentring the human from the privileged position within both nature and society. We argue then that gender, anthropomorphism and the placement of animals in everyday media such as television advertisements play an important role in constituting the meaning and limits of how we relate to nonhuman life. In this regard, the arguments have significance not only for the field of animal geographies but also for a future in which animals are seen as more than just food or pets.Médiatisation des géographies animales: symbolisme, manipulation et imaginaire dans la publicité Cet article examine les représentations d'animaux dans les publicités aux heures de grande écoute à la télévision en Nouvelle Zélande de fac on à explorer la manière dont les animaux non humains sont incorporés dans notre vie de tous les jours. La discussion s'appuie sur l'examen détaillé de publicités qui attirent l'attention sur la manipulation et la représentation quotidienne de sujets non humains. En mettant l'accent sur le moyen de communication apparemment banal de la publicité, nous questionnons les transformations subtiles et moins que subtiles de la subjectivité animale et la fac on dont elles expriment un discours plus vaste sur le genre et la nature par rapport aux agents humains et non humains. Ainsi, nous mettons en évidence la nature essentielle de la décentralisation de l'humain d'un point de vue privilégié dans le cadre, à la fois, de la nature et de la société. Nous soutenons ensuite que le genre, l'anthropomorphisme et le placement des animaux dans les media de tous les jours tels que les publicités à la télévision jouent un rôle important dans la constitution du sens et des limites de nos rapports à la vie non humaine. A cet égard, les arguments ont de l'importance non seulement dans le domaine des géographies animales mais aussi pour un avenir où les animaux sont considérés comme étant plus que juste de la nourriture ou des animaux familiers. Geografías animales mediáticas: simbolismo, manipulación y lo imaginario en la publicidadEste trabajo analiza las representaciones de animales en los anuncios televisivos en horario de máxima audiencia en Nueva Zelanda como una vía para explorar la forma en que los animales no-humanos se incorporan a nuestra vida cotidiana. La discusión se basa en la lectura atenta de anuncios que ponen atención a la manipulación y la represen...

Abstract. Understanding the dominant climate forcings in the Pliocene is crucial to assessing the usefulness of the Pliocene as an analogue for our warmer future. Here, we implement a novel yet simple linear factorisation method to assess the relative influence of CO2 forcing in seven models of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PlioMIP2) ensemble. Outputs are termed “FCO2” and show the fraction of Pliocene climate change driven by CO2. The accuracy of the FCO2 method is first assessed through comparison to an energy balance analysis previously used to assess drivers of surface air temperature in the PlioMIP1 ensemble. After this assessment, the FCO2 method is applied to achieve an understanding of the drivers of Pliocene sea surface temperature and precipitation for the first time. CO2 is found to be the most important forcing in the ensemble for Pliocene surface air temperature (global mean FCO2=0.56), sea surface temperature (global mean FCO2=0.56), and precipitation (global mean FCO2=0.51). The range between individual models is found to be consistent between these three climate variables, and the models generally show good agreement on the sign of the most important forcing. Our results provide the most spatially complete view of the drivers of Pliocene climate to date and have implications for both data–model comparison and the use of the Pliocene as an analogue for the future. That CO2 is found to be the most important forcing reinforces the Pliocene as a good palaeoclimate analogue, but the significant effect of non-CO2 forcing at a regional scale (e.g. orography and ice sheet forcing at high latitudes) reminds us that it is not perfect, and these additional influencing factors must not be overlooked. This comparison is further complicated when considering the Pliocene as a state in quasi-equilibrium with CO2 forcing compared to the transient warming being experienced at present.