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Population abundance, structure and turnover estimates for leopard seals during winter dispersal combining tagging and photo-identification data

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Abstract

Winter dispersal in leopard seals is poorly understood because of its low density in most of its range. By combining photo-identification and tagging data from Bird Island, South Georgia, in mark-recapture models, leopard seal abundance over the winter of 2005 was estimated as 118 (95% CI: 78–179). Seasonal residents arrived earlier and stayed longer around the island (27 days; 95% CI: 23–32) and their numbers were low and stable over the winter \((\bar{x} = 12; 95\%\hbox{CI}: 5\hbox{--}28).\) Most of the seals (81; 95% CI: 31–130) were young transients, stayed only 1–7 days, and arrived later in the season. This suggests (1) very low predatory pressure upon the locally abundant prey populations; (2) two different patterns of winter movements: a winter migration in adult seals with long-term site fidelity, and large numbers of juveniles in dispersal possibly attracted by locally abundant prey colonies, and potentially influenced by increased environmental stress.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to H.F. Taylor and A. Thomas who helped in the collection of photo-identification data at Bird Island, South Georgia. P. Bucktrout from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Photo Unit provided invaluable support in the creation of the leopard seal catalogue and database. I.P. Forster improved the manuscript with helpful comments. This work was carried out in support of the BAS DISCOVERY 2010 and LTMS Core Science Programmes at South Georgia.

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  1. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    Jaume Forcada & Sarah L. Robinson

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  1. Jaume Forcada
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  2. Sarah L. Robinson
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Correspondence to Jaume Forcada.

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Forcada, J., Robinson, S.L. Population abundance, structure and turnover estimates for leopard seals during winter dispersal combining tagging and photo-identification data. Polar Biol 29, 1052–1062 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0149-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0149-y

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