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Examining natural population growth from near extinction: the case of the Antarctic fur seal at the South Shetlands, Antarctica

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Abstract

This study examined the recovery process of an Antarctic fur-seal population, starting from minimal numbers after commercial exploitation to the now largest breeding population in the South Shetland Archipelago, Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Islets. It used direct census data from 20 breeding seasons (including 11 consecutive years) that spanned over 45 years. Since early population estimates, pup production increased at an intrinsic rate of ca. 20% which, during the last decade, dramatically slowed to 4.6%. The population-change trajectory is currently converging into a tightly bounded oscillation around an apparent equilibrium (carrying capacity), which is an order of magnitude lower than those levels before exploitation began. This pattern suggests the onset of an alternative stable state and highlights the far-reaching implications of strong and large-scale perturbations on marine systems.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH) for continuously supporting Project 018. Likewise, we wish to express our gratitude to all those people who were involved in the fieldwork on which this paper is based, especially A. Aguayo, J. Acevedo, R. Bernal†, O. Blank, M.C. García, R. Hewitt, R. Jaña, B. Pister, J.P. Torres, V. Vallejos, R. Vargas and S. Zárate†. In the same way, P. Rubilar and J.M. Ponciano were good enough to help and comment on early modelling trials. We also wish to thank Dr. A. Berryman, Dr. M. Bester, Dr. I. Boyd, Dr. J. Croxall, Ms. S. Kromann, Dr. R. Laws, K. Reid, Dr. R. Schlatter, Dr. D. Siniff, and especially Dr. P. Shaughnessy, Dr. W. de la Mare and one anonymous reviewer, for their constructive comments on earlier versions of this paper and/or for sending valuable literature. At the time this paper was written, R. H.-G. and L.P.O. were supported by a Doctoral scholarship from CONICYT and MECESUP (Chile), respectively. This corresponds to contribution no. 2 from the Blue Whale Center (CBA/BWC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ecología y Evolución, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile

    R. Hucke-Gaete, L. P. Osman & C. A. Moreno

  2. Instituto Antártico Chileno, Luis Thayer Ojeda 814, Providencia, Santiago, Chile

    D. Torres

Authors
  1. R. Hucke-Gaete
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  2. L. P. Osman
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  3. C. A. Moreno
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  4. D. Torres
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Correspondence to R. Hucke-Gaete.

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Hucke-Gaete, R., Osman, L.P., Moreno, C.A. et al. Examining natural population growth from near extinction: the case of the Antarctic fur seal at the South Shetlands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 27, 304–311 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0587-8

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