The frequency and costs of harassment in southern elephant seals

Galimberti, Filippo; Boitani, Luigi; Marzetti, I.

doi:10.1080/08927014.2000.9522792

Cited by 43 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…These results are consistent with findings on primates (15) between related females (16,17,38). Females benefit directly by reducing harassment received, and harassment reduces reproductive success in horses (6) and other mammals (2,39,40). Additional benefits could include reduced stress levels (41), because harassment increases stress levels and decreases body condition (6).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Cameron

Setsaas

Linklater

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

458

413

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In many mammals, females form close social bonds with members of their group, usually between kin. Studies of social bonds and their fitness benefits have not been investigated outside primates, and are confounded by the relatedness between individuals in primate groups. Bonds may arise from kin selection and inclusive fitness rather than through direct benefits of association. However, female equids live in long-term social groups with unrelated members. We present 4 years of behavioral data, which demonstrate that social integration between unrelated females increases both foal birth rates and survival, independent of maternal habitat quality, social group type, dominance status, and age. Also, we show that such social integration reduces harassment by males. Consequently, social integration has strong direct fitness consequences between nonrelatives, suggesting that social bonds can evolve based on these direct benefits alone. Our results support recent studies highlighting the importance of direct benefits in maintaining cooperative behavior, while controlling for the confounding influence of kinship.equid ͉ friendship ͉ social structure ͉ alliances ͉ sociality

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Cameron

Setsaas

Linklater

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

458

413

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“…They would therefore be more prone to harassment from peripheral males (Galimberti et al 2000). Although there was a slight trend for young females to spend more time in agonistic encounters, this was not significant.…”

Section: Behaviormentioning

confidence: 68%

Physiology and Behavior Influence Lactation Efficiency in Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

McDonald

Crocker

2006

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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The efficiency with which mothers convert acquired energy into milk is a key determinant of the magnitude of parental in vestment in mammals; however, the mech~isms underlying lactation efficiency are poorly understood. Investigations on northern elephant seals have shown lactation efficiency, mea sured as the proportion of total energy expenditure that goes to the pup as milk, increases with age. In a cross-sectional study the physiological and behavioral determinants of lactation ef ficiency were investigated in eight young and seven prime (older) elephant seals by conducting behavioral observations and collecting milk, blood, and tissue on days 3 and 22 of lactation. Milk composition, circulating fatty acid and triglyc eride concentrations, and mammary and blubber lipoprotein lipase activity were determined. Prime females had significantly greater percent milk fat and circulating fatty acids on day 3 than did young females, but these differences disappeared by day 22. The ability for prime females to produce higher-energy milk early in lactation may allow them to increase lactation efficiency by increasing the rate of energy transfer. In addition, prime females spent significantly more time resting. A com bination of reduced activity and more rapid energy delivery likely explains the increase in lactation efficiency with age found in a previous study.

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“…These animals were assigned a rank that they held for the remainder of the breeding season. Copulatory success was measured as the estimated number of females inseminated (ENFI; Le Boeuf 1974;Le Boeuf and Reiter 1988;Deutsch et al 1990Deutsch et al , 1994Haley 1994;Haley et al 1994;Galimberti et al 2000Galimberti et al , 2002Galimberti et al , 2007Fabiani et al 2004;Sanvito et al 2007). ENFI was calculated as the number of successful copulations with individual marked females that were observed for a male in a breeding area, divided by the total number of copulations between all study males and individual marked females observed in the area and multiplied by the total number of females in the area.…”

Section: Behavioral Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Body Reserves on Energy Expenditure, Water Flux, and Mating Success in Breeding Male Northern Elephant Seals

Crocker¹,

Houser²,

Webb³

2012

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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In capital breeders, individual differences in body size and condition can impact mating effort and success. In addition to the collateral advantages of large body size in competition, large nutrient reserves may offer advantages in endurance rivalry and enable the high rates of energy expenditure associated with mating success. We examined the impacts of body reserves and dominance rank on energy expenditure, water flux, mating success, and breeding tenure in the adult male northern elephant seal, a polygynous, capital breeder. Adult males expended energy at a rate of MJ d Ϫ1, which is equivalent to 3.1 195 ‫ע‬ 49 times the standard metabolic rate predicted by Kleiber's equation. Despite high rates of energy expenditure and a long fasting duration, males spared lean tissue effectively, deriving a mean of 7% of their metabolism from protein catabolism. Body composition had a strong impact on the ability to spare lean tissue during breeding. When controlling for body size, energy expenditure, depletion of blubber reserves, and water efflux were significantly greater in alpha males than in subordinate males. Large body size was associated with increased reproductive effort, tenure on shore, dominance rank, and reproductive success. Terrestrial locomotion and topography appeared to strongly influence energy expenditure. Comparisons with conspecific females suggest greater total seasonal reproductive effort in male northern elephant seals when controlling for the effects of body mass. In polygynous capital breeding systems, male effort may be strongly influenced by physiological state and exceed that of females.

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The frequency and costs of harassment in southern elephant seals

Cited by 43 publications

References 53 publications

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Social bonds between unrelated females increase reproductive success in feral horses

Physiology and Behavior Influence Lactation Efficiency in Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

Impact of Body Reserves on Energy Expenditure, Water Flux, and Mating Success in Breeding Male Northern Elephant Seals

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