Dispersal and dispersion of southern elephant seals in the Kerguelen province, Southern Ocean

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Authors

Oosthuizen, Wessel Christiaan
Bester, Marthan Nieuwoudt
Tosh, Cheryl A.
Guinet, Christophe
Besson, Dominique
De Bruyn, P.J. Nico

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Abstract

Southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina within the Kerguelen province disperse between Marion Island (MI), Iles Crozet (IC) and Iles Kerguelen (IK) despite the high site fidelity characteristic of this species. From 1987–2002, 199 IC individuals, or 11.63% of the tagged population there, were resighted at MI. Resights of IC seals at MI peaked during the juvenile moult and seals aged 0–2 represent 66% of all resights made. Equal numbers of male and female seals (all age classes) were dispersing. Dispersing breeding females (n=22, on 33 occasions) outnumbered dispersing breeding males (n=6, on 16 occasions), after initially emigrating from IC to MI as juvenile seals (natal dispersal). Greater male-mediated gene flow was ultimately attained due to the polygynous mating system and some extremely successful males. Of 132 seals fitted with satellite-relay data loggers at MI, six hauled out at IC and three at IK. Two of the seals which migrated to IC were born at MI; all others were unmarked males likely to be native to IC or IK. Dispersal should ideally be considered when assessing vital rates for southern Indian Ocean elephant seal populations.

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Keywords

Gene flow, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Mark-resighting, Metapopulation, Migration, Mirounga leonina, Marion Island

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Oosthuizen, WC, Bester, MN, Tosh, CA, Guinet, C, Besson, D & De Bruyn, PJN 2011, 'Dispersal and dispersion of southern elephant seals in the Kerguelen province, Southern Ocean', Antarctic Science, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 567-577.