Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and population parameters of the world’s northernmost harbour seals Phoca vitulina residing in Svalbard, Norway

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Svalbard are the northernmost population of this species. The population size is thought to be less than 1,000 individuals; these animals reside principally within a national park on Prins Karls Forland on the west coast of Spitsbergen, Svalbard, at about 78°20′N. The material presented in this study was collected from 367 live-captured animals, aged based on growth layers read from stained, decalcified incisor sections (except for pups of the year). Standard length (F1,246=45.70, P<0.0001) and body mass (F1,258=25.28; P<0.0001) were both significantly influenced by sex when age was taken into account. Adult males are both longer [152.9±4.8 (SE) vs 140.1±2.0 cm, standard length] and heavier (104.0±5.0 vs 83.2±2.7 kg, body mass) than adult females in this population. Age at sexual maturity was assessed based on analyses of sex hormones. Testosterone levels in males showed an abrupt increase at 6 years of age, while estradiol levels in females increased from age 4. The reproductive rate of adult females was 0.93. The longevity of Svalbard harbour seals was short compared to harbour-seal populations from other areas. However, these seals are not exposed to terrestrial predation; there is no known mortality due to fisheries or hunting and their pollution burdens are low. Extreme seasonality and perhaps other harsh environmental conditions at the northern edge of this species’ distribution may exert long-term low levels of stress that result in short life span, or there are currently unknown acute sources of mortality in this population. To our knowledge, this is the first study of population parameters on a pinniped species using cross-sectional, non-terminal sampling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Society of Mammalogists (1967) Standard measurements of seals. J Mammal 48:459–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen SM (2001) Blubber from harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, Prins Karls Forland, Svalbard. The influence of sex, age, and diet on fatty acid composition. MSc Thesis, University of Copenhagen

  • Anonymous (1949) Reports from the sealing, the Greenland shark fisheries and from the overwintering expeditions in 1949. Årsb Vedrør Norges Fisk 10

  • Atkinson S, Gilmartin WG (1992) Seasonal testosterone pattern in Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi). J Reprod Fertil 96:35–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew GA (1970) A model for the evolution of pinniped polygyny. Evolution 24:546–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartsh SS, Johnston SD, Siniff DB (1992) Territorial behavior and breeding frequency of male Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) in relation to age, size, and concentrations of serum testosterone and cortisol. Can J Zool 70:680–692

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernt KE, Hammill MO, Kovacs KM (1996) Age determination of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) using incisors. Mar Mammal Sci 12:476–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertalanffy L von (1957) Quantitative laws in metabolism and growth. Q Rev Biol 32:217–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bigg MA (1969) The harbour seal in British Columbia. Fish Res Board Can Bull 172

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjørge A (1992) The reproductive biology of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina L., in Norwegian waters. Sarsia 77:47–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulva J, McLaren IA (1979) Biology of the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina, in eastern Canada. Fish Res Board Can Bull 200

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen WD, Ellis SL, Iversen SJ, Boness DJ (2003) Maternal and newborn life-history traits during periods of contrasting population trends: implications for explaining the decline of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), on Sable Island. J Zool Lond 261:155–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd IL (1983) Luteal regression, follicle growth and the concentration of some plasma steroids during lactation in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). J Reprod Fertil 69:157–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burns JJ, Goltsev VN (1984) Comparative biology of harbor seals, Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758, of the Commander, Aleutian, and Pribolof Islands. In: Fay FH, Fedoseev GA (eds) Soviet-American cooperative research on marine mammals, vol 1. Pinnipeds. NOAA Tech Rep NMFS 12, pp 17–24

  • Clutton-Brock TH (ed) (1988) Reproductive success. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlen ST, Oring LW (1977) Ecology, sexual selection and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197:215–223

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard J-M, Festa-Bianchet M, Yoccoz NG (1998) Population dynamics of large herbivores: variable recruitment with constant adult survival. TREE 13:58–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner KJ, Boyd IL, Follett BK, Racey PA, Reijnders PJH (1999) Changes in pituitary, ovarian, and testicular activity in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in relation to season and sexual maturity. Can J Zool 77:211–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gjertz I, Børset A (1992) Pupping in the most northerly harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Mar Mammal Sci 8:103–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Gjertz I, Lydersen C, Wiig Ø (2001) Distribution and diving of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Svalbard. Polar Biol 24:209–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen S, Lavigne DM (1997) Ontogeny of the thermal limits in the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Physiol Zool 70:85–92

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen S, Lavigne DM, Innes S (1995) Energy metabolism and thermoregulation in juvenile harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in air. Physiol Zool 68:290–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Harcourt AH (2002) Empirical estimates of minimum viable population sizes for primates: tens to tens of thousands? Anim Conserv 5:237–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harding KC, Harkonen T, Caswell H (2002) The 2002 European seal plague: epidemiology and population consequences. Ecol Lett 5:727–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Härkönen T, Heide-Jørgensen M-P (1990) Comparative life histories of east Atlantic and other harbour seal populations. Ophelia 32:211–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauksson E (1992) Biology of Icelandic common seal (Phoca vitulina L.) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus Fabr.), length-weight relationships, growth-curves and fecundity. Hafrannsoknir 43:23–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayama S, Suzuki M, Uno H, Yamashita T (1986) Female sexual maturity and delayed implantation period of the Kuril seal. Sci Rep Whales Res Inst 37:173–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Heide-Jørgensen M-P, Härkönen T, Dietz R, Thompson PM (1992) Retrospective of the 1988 European seal epizootic. Dis Aquat Org 13:37–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoel A (1949) Håkjerringfisket i Arktiske farvann (Greenland shark fisheries in Arctic waters). In: Strøm J (ed) Særtrykk av Norsk Fiskeri og Fangst Håndbok. Bind I del III. Albert Cammermeyers, pp 823–828

  • Irving L, Hart JS (1957) The metabolism and insulation of seals as bare-skinned mammals in cold water. Can J Zool 35:497–511

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen C, Lydersen C, Brix O, Kovacs KM (2001) Diving development in nursing harbour seals. J Exp Biol 204:3993–4004

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas Z, Stobo WT (2000) Shark-inflicted mortality on a population of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) at Sable Island, Nova Scotia. J Zool Lond 252:405–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lydersen C, Gjertz I (1987) Population parameters of ringed seals (Phoca hispida Schreber, 1775) in the Svalbard area. Can J Zool 65:1021–1027

    Google Scholar 

  • Markussen NH, Bjørge A, Øritsland NA (1989) Growth in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) on the Norwegian coast. J Zool Lond 219:433–440

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren IA (1993) Growth in pinnipeds. Biol Rev 68:1–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller K, Irving L (1975) Metabolism and temperature regulation in young harbor seals Phoca vitulina richardi. Am J Physiol 229:506–511

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noonan LN, Ronald K, Raeside J (1991) Plasma testosterone concentrations of captive male hooded seals (Cystophora cristata). Can J Zool 69:2279–2282

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Øien N (1988) The distribution of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the North Atlantic based on Norwegian catches, 1938–1981, and incidental sightings, 1967–1987. Rit Fiskideildar 11:65–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestrud P, Gjertz I (1990) The most northerly harbor seal, Phoca vitulina, at Prins Karls Forland, Svalbard. Mar Mammal Sci 6:215–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Reder S, Lydersen C, Arnold W, Kovacs KM (2004) Haul-out behaviour of high Arctic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Svalbard, Norway. Polar Biol 27:6–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed DH, O’Grady JJ, Brook BW, Ballou JD, Frankham R (2003) Estimates of minimum viable population sizes for vertebrates and factors influencing those estimates. Biol Conserv 113:23–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reijnders PJH (1990) Progesterone and oestradiol-17β concentration profiles throughout the reproductive cycle in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). J Reprod Fertil 90:403–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schnute J (1981) A versatile growth model with statistically stable parameters. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 38:1128–1140

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrano A (2000) Plasma testosterone concentrations in captive male harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Aquat Mammals 27:50–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirling I (1975) Factors affecting the evolution of social behaviour in the Pinnipedia. Rapp P-V Réun Cons Int Explor Mer 169:205–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirling I (1983) The evolution of mating systems in pinnipeds. Am Soc Mammal Spec Publ 7:489–527

    Google Scholar 

  • Temte JL, Bigg MA, Wiig Ø (1991) Clines revisited: the timing of pupping in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). J Zool Lond 224:617–632

    Google Scholar 

  • VanParijs SM, Thompson PM, Tollit DJ, Mackay A (1997) Distribution and activity of male harbour seals during the mating season. Anim Behav 54:35–53

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanParijs SM, Hastie GD, Thompson PM (2000a) Individual and geographic variation in display behaviour of male harbour seals in Scotland. Anim Behav 59:559–568

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanParijs SM, Janik VM, Thompson PM (2000b) Display-area size, tenure length, and site fidelity in the aquatically mating male harbour seal, Phoca vitulina. Can J Zool 78:2209–2217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts P, Hansen S, Lavigne DM (1993) Models of heat loss by marine mammals: thermoregulation below the zone of irrelevance. J Theor Biol 103:505–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiig Ø(1989) A description of common seals, Phoca vitulina L. 1758, from Svalbard. Mar Mammal Sci 5:149–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolkers H, Burkow IC, Lydersen C, Dahle S, Monshouwer M, Witkamp RF (1998) Congener specific PCB and polychlorinated camphene (toxaphene) levels in Svalbard ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in relation to sex, age, condition and cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. Sci Total Environ 216:1–11

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolkers H, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM (2004) Accumulation and lactational transfer of PCBs and pesticides in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Svalbard, Norway. Sci Total Environ 319:137–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by University Studies on Svalbard (UNIS), the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Research Council (the “Arctic Light and Heat”—Research Programme). We thank Magnus Andersen, Signe May Andersen, Christian Jørgensen, Bjørn Krafft, Hans Lund and Sonja Reder for their help with the fieldwork, Dr. Ward Testa and Dr. Bruce Mate for interesting discussions regarding potential sources of mortality, and Dr. Jon Aars and Dr. Peter Corkeron for valuable advice regarding revision of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296, Tromsø, Norway

    Christian Lydersen & Kit M. Kovacs

Authors
  1. Christian Lydersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kit M. Kovacs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Lydersen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lydersen, C., Kovacs, K.M. Growth and population parameters of the world’s northernmost harbour seals Phoca vitulina residing in Svalbard, Norway. Polar Biol 28, 156–163 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0656-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0656-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation