OBSERVATIONS OF PARTURITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL (MONACHUS MONACHUS)

Layna, Jorge F.; Cedenilla, Miguel Angel; Aparicio, Fernando; González, Luis Mariano

doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1999.tb00852.x

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The general pattern of the parturition events recorded during this study is consistent with the information available from the species (Layna et al, 1999) and the closely related Hawaiian monk seal (Eliason et al, 1990). Some differences were recorded, however, such as the cephalic presentation of one pup, the potential birth of a pup in shallow waters, the lack of aggressive interactions between adult females, and the presence of aggressive interactions between parturient females and non-filial pups.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…World population estimates for the species currently number less than 600 individuals, distributed over isolated subpopulations in the Archipelago of Madeira and the Cabo Blanco region in Mauritania / Morocco in the Atlantic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Johnson et al, 2006). General information on the reproductive biology of the species is available only from the colony at Cabo Blanco (Layna et al, 1999;Gazo et al, 2000aGazo et al, , 2000bCedenilla et al, 2009); this information, however, might not necessarily be directly applicable to the other two areas of the species' distribution due to significant differences in habitat occupied (Karamanlidis et al, 2004), female reproductive strategies, and population structure (Dendrinos et al, 2007b). Monk seals in Greece generally inhabit small coastal caves, often close to human populated areas that offer only limited land area, exposing newborns to the danger of being washed-out to the open sea by storms early in life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First Observations of Parturition and Postpartum Behavior in the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) in the Eastern Mediterranean

Karamanlidis¹,

Paravas²,

Trillmich³

et al. 2010

aquatic mammals

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Understanding reproductive behavior, especially the circumstances surrounding parturition and the events following the first days postpartum, is essential in developing effective conservation strategies for endangered pinnipeds. In the case of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), difficulties in documenting events such as parturition are compounded by the very low population numbers and the inaccessibility of the habitat occupied by the species. In this study, the authors report the first observations of parturition for the species from the central Aegean Sea, Greece, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Using a state-of-the-art infrared remotemonitoring system, two births were documented, and important information on the total duration of the events; the total duration of attempted suckling; as well as information on the presentation of the pups, their sex, and habitat were recorded. This new information on the reproductive biology of the species in this part of its range outline the importance of suitable reproductive caves for the conservation of the species and the urgency of protecting them. In addition, considering the high cost and logistics of the study, monitoring the species on a large scale to effectively protect it will require the development of new, low-cost, and time-efficient methodologies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Observations of Parturition and Postpartum Behavior in the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) in the Eastern Mediterranean

Karamanlidis¹,

Paravas²,

Trillmich³

et al. 2010

aquatic mammals

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“…Prior to parturition, females often retreat to isolated areas within caves and fend off other approaching monk seals (Layna et al. ). Aggressive interactions in the pupping caves between females and between females and pups are common (Dendrinos et al.…”

Section: Biologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: status, biology, threats, and conservation priorities

Karamanlidis

Dendrinos

Larrinoa³

et al. 2015

Mammal Review

103

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The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is the most endangered seal species. In this review we summarize the status, ecology, and behaviour of the Mediterranean monk seal, and identify the main threats that currently affect the species and the conservation priorities for securing its survival. Once abundant throughout the Black Sea and Mediterranean, as well as off the Atlantic coasts of northwestern Africa and Macaronesia, the Mediterranean monk seal has recently suffered dramatic declines, both in abundance and geographical range. It is now estimated that fewer than 700 individuals survive in three or four isolated subpopulations in the eastern and western Mediterranean, the archipelago of Madeira and the Cabo Blanco area in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Mediterranean monk seals are coastal marine mammals. When resting and pupping on land, individuals generally seek refuge in inaccessible marine caves; this behaviour is, in part, believed to be an adaptation to increased disturbance by humans. Larger aggregations or colonies of the species can now be found only at Cabo Blanco in the Atlantic Ocean and on the island of Gyaros in the eastern Mediterranean. The main threats to the survival of the Mediterranean monk seal are habitat deterioration; deliberate killing, mainly by fishermen; and accidental entanglement and drowning in fishing gear. Limited availability of food sources and stochastic and unusual events have occasionally also contributed to Mediterranean monk seal mortality. Based on a common consensus among scientists and conservationists, the main conservation priorities for the monk seal are: habitat protection; mitigating negative interactions between seals and fisheries; scientific research and monitoring of local seal populations; education and public awareness campaigns; and rescue and rehabilitation of wounded, sick, and orphaned seals.

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“…In horses, the mare may roll during the first stage of labor to facilitate the rotation of the fetus into the birth canal (Kahn & Line, 2005). In monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), the female often rolls on her back presumably for the same reason (Eliason et al, 1989;Layna et al, 1999;Blanchet et al, 2006). In dolphins and porpoises that are giving birth in water to a breeched neonate, the flexion part of a contraction might have the same action.…”

Section: Parturitionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In some cases, females can even voluntarily delay parturition if environmental conditions are not favorable (Rock, 2006). Parturition in some marine mammals species has been documented, but mostly for pinnipeds that usually give birth on land (Ronald & Thomson, 1981;Stewart et al, 1981;Frank et al, 1985;Lawson & Renouf, 1985;Eliason et al, 1990;Layna et al, 1999;Blanchet et al, 2006;Acevedo et al, 2008). However, observing and documenting parturition is more difficult for cetaceans that give birth at sea with reports limited to scarce events that include strandings (Hückstadt & Antezana, 2001) or opportunistic observations at sea (Gambell et al, 1973;Balcomb, 1974;Weilgart & Whitehead, 1986; Notarbartolo di Sciara et al, 1997; Stacey & Baird, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

First Observation of the Parturition and Peripartum Events in a Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Blanchet¹,

Ishigami²,

Wahlberg³

2009

aquatic mammals

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Parturition events in cetaceans are difficult to observe in nature and scarcely described in detail. Observations from animals in captivity offer the possibility to follow complete gestations and to obtain a precise description of the series of events pertaining to pregnancy and parturition. After a gestation period of 11 mo, the parturition of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was observed for the first time at the Danish research facility Fjord & Boelt on 8 August 2007. Five prepartum signs useful to predict the onset of parturition were identified: (1) decrease in appetite (from 5,064 Kcal/d to 907 Kcal/d at 2 d before birth [B-2]), (2) unusual behavior (disinterest in training sessions, seeking of physical contact with the trainers, restlessness), (3) decrease in body temperature of 1.6º C at B-1, (4) swollenness in the genital area, and (5) increase in the inter-mammary distance (from 5 to 8 cm at B-1).During labor, three stages described for other mammals in literature were observed and each stage's duration recorded: Stage 1 was characterized by uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix (between 2 h 19 min and 7 h 39 min), Stage 2 started with the rupture of fetal membranes (1 h 42 min at least), and Stage 3 comprised the expulsion of the fetus and its membranes (7 h). The total duration of the parturition was at least 16 h 21 min as there is an uncertainty in regards to the exact beginning of the labor.The sequence of visible events occurring during parturition was as follows: apparition of the amniotic sac, apparition of the calf's flukes, apparition of the peduncle, delivery of the calf, and expulsion of the left horn of the placenta followed by the right horn. As described for other cetaceans, the delivery was caudal.Contractions seemed to be longer and more frequent during the first stage and during the beginning of the second stage of labor. The contractions then shortened and became more regular during the expulsion of the calf. We observed that the expulsion of the calf was not provoked only by contractions but helped at the end by a violent rotational movement of the mother that broke the umbilical cord. The female's breathing rate increased dramatically towards the end of the expulsion of the calf.

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OBSERVATIONS OF PARTURITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL (MONACHUS MONACHUS)

Cited by 12 publications

References 5 publications

First Observations of Parturition and Postpartum Behavior in the Mediterranean Monk Seal (<I>Monachus monachus</I>) in the Eastern Mediterranean

First Observations of Parturition and Postpartum Behavior in the Mediterranean Monk Seal (<I>Monachus monachus</I>) in the Eastern Mediterranean

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: status, biology, threats, and conservation priorities

First Observation of the Parturition and Peripartum Events in a Harbor Porpoise (<I>Phocoena phocoena</I>)

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