Introduction
The study of population dynamics and life history has long remained important in the field of ecology, with the major objective of studying and analysing individual animals of a population over space and time (Lebreton et al. Reference Lebreton, Burnham, Clobert and Anderson1992). Methods that simplify detection of life history traits over a temporal scale are of great value. A simpler non-invasive method for an important life history parameter (size) emerged through the use of photogrammetry, the science of making measurements from photographs (Baker Reference Baker1960). One application that received much attention was the development of methods to estimate mass of some marine mammals (e.g. de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009). The volumetric mass estimation method (de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009) can greatly assist longitudinal studies (de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Tosh, Oosthuizen, Phalanndwa and Bester2008) that would traditionally have required reweighing of marked animals (e.g. Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999).
Chemical immobilization of pinnipeds is challenging due to their extreme size, fierce attitude and fast reaction, this makes direct measurements of body mass problematic and potentially dangerous for the researcher, and additionally heavy equipment might be required (Boyd et al. Reference Boyd, Arnbom and Fedak1993). Studies of mass loss and gain in female southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina (L.), over the course of an annual cycle, has received little attention as a consequence of the logistical limitations associated with weighing these animals. Studies conducted at King George Island (Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997, Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999), South Georgia (Boyd et al. Reference Boyd, Arnbom and Fedak1993) and Macquarie Island (Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Slip and Burton1994), relied on physically weighing and interacting with small numbers of animals.
Southern elephant seals have predictable haulout periods, high site fidelity and their naivety towards humans makes them excellent subjects for population demography studies. Southern elephant seals spend c. 85% of their lifetimes feeding in the pelagic environment (McIntyre et al. Reference McIntyre, De Bruyn, Ansorge, Bester, Bornemann, Plötz and Tosh2010), but haul out on land to breed, moult and overwinter (Kirkman et al. Reference Kirkman, Bester, Pistorius, Hofmeyr, Jonker, Owen and Strydom2003, Reference Kirkman, Bester, Hofmeyr, Jonker, Pistorius, Owen and Strydom2004). They fast throughout this period, relying exclusively on stored fat reserves for lactation (Arnbom et al. Reference Arnbom, Fedak and Boyd1997). After breeding, females make a post-lactation trip to sea, lasting a mean of 68.0 ± 10.1 days at Marion Island, to regain their mass before returning to shore for the annual obligatory moult.
We applied a simple mathematical mass estimation method on an established photogrammetry technique (de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009) to calculate mass fluctuation over time. We investigate the applicability of it detecting mass fluctuations by comparing our results to other southern elephant seal populations. Implications for life history strategies of the female component are discussed. We evaluate the combined benefit of a long-term mark-recapture programme with photogrammetry in assessing individual mass change over a theoretically unlimited temporal scale.
Methods
Study site
Marion Island (46°54′S, 37°45′E), one of the two islands in the Prince Edward Islands is situated in the southern Indian Ocean. The coastline consists mainly of cliffs with pebble beaches on the eastern side of the island where elephant seals predominantly haul out (Condy Reference Condy1978). For this study, a sequence of photographs of tagged (known-aged) breeding female southern elephant seals were taken at several breeding colony beaches between Ship's Cove and Archway Bay on the eastern aspect of the island (Fig. 1). On returning to the island for the moult haulout, the same females were photographed again.
Fig. 1 Marion Island. Breeding period photogrammetry was performed between Ship's Cove and Archway Beach and all the beaches in the moult. The search for tagged seals along the coastline on all the beaches indicated with arrows, were conducted every seven days during the breeding season (mid-August to mid-November) and every ten days for the remainder of the year since 1983.
Tagging and mark-resighting programme
Since 1983 practically all newly-weaned pups born on Marion Island were double tagged in each of their hind flippers with uniquely numbered, colour-coded Dalton jumbo tags (Dalton Supplies, Hendley-on-Thames, UK) as detailed by de Bruyn et al. (Reference De Bruyn, Tosh, Oosthuizen, Phalanndwa and Bester2008). Following tagging, all hauled out elephant seals were checked for the presence of tags on all popular beaches along the coastline (Fig. 1) every seven days during the breeding season (mid-August to mid-November) and every ten days for the remainder of the year. Tagged individuals were documented (tag number and cohort specific colour; sex if known; haulout site) to compile life history data for each individual.
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry was performed with calibrated SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras (Canon 350D, 400D and 450D). Before the first time a camera is used for photogrammetry, each camera and lens combination is calibrated using a calibration grid with coded targets at a set focal length as described in the calibration manual in the Photomodeler Pro® (EOS systems Inc) software package. Importantly, the calibration procedure is performed for the minimum (in our case = 18 mm) or maximum zoom setting to ensure repeatability of this setting in the field. The software requires a structured series of photographs, taking into account yaw (e.g. 90 degree rolls) and repeatable camera settings, to establish the relationship between lens and camera body (in the case of SLRs) or relevant parameters in compact cameras, to ensure that the entire field of view is calibrated. This effectively corrects for orthogonal distortion and conversion for the camera's entire field of view. Auto rotation, image stabilizer and red-eye settings of the camera were switched off for both calibration and field use to reduce unnecessary algorithm calculations/‘noise’ during processing. These precautions allow for optimal accuracy as stipulated in the Photomodeler® calibration procedure. In independent comparisons between several software packages and traditional calibration procedures, Photomodeler® calibration procedures were shown to be accurate and repeatable for close range photogrammetry applications (Remondino & Fraser Reference Remondino and Fraser2006). During fieldwork, care was taken to ensure photos were taken at calibrated camera settings. Recalibration is only required if the camera or lens is bumped, otherwise badly damaged or rebuilt. As a matter of course, recalibration of already calibrated cameras is periodically performed to ensure photographic and calibration projects are matched, in the unlikely event that calibration settings are changed.
Eight or more photos were taken from different angles around a seal (subject) to form one project. Twenty-three female seals ranging from 3–18 years of age were repeatedly photographed between September 2009 and February 2010. For each of the animals, photogrammetric (PG) projects were performed: 1) upon their arrival for the breeding season, 2) post-partum to assess birthing mass loss for all mothers (Fig. 2), and 3) immediately pre-departure for their subsequent post-breeding pelagic foraging phase. Secondly, in the summer, photogrammetric projects were done during the moult following the post-breeding foraging trip: 1) pre-moult (or when animals were first sighted), and 2) post-moult, prior to seals departing for their post-moult pelagic phase. Three-dimensional models (based on each of the PG projects) (Fig. 3) were built using the de Bruyn et al. (Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009) method for estimation of body mass. Volumetric estimation procedures were executed using the commercially available three-dimensional (3-D) modelling package Photomodeler Pro® version 6.2 (de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009). From the digital photographs, a 3-D spatial model was created using fixed points on the substrate around the animal. These were cross-referenced between photographs to create a 3-D map of surrounding substrate. Mapping of the landmarks surrounding the subject attributes to the methods’ robustness, as substrate markers remain unmoved between photographs, whereas living animals (the ‘subject’ in our case) are not absolutely unmoved between photographs (breathing, sneezing etc.). The silhouette (outline) of the animal was traced on all the photographs and cross-referenced between photographs to shape the model of the subject. The volume of the animal's shape was multiplied by a coefficient that is contingent on the mean total body density, the nature of the substrate upon which the animal is resting as well as the number of photographs in a project (table 2 in de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009) to obtain an estimate of body mass (Table I). Consistency of body mass estimation was tested by performing two different projects of the same animal (n = 4) on the same day. Difference between projects ranged from 0.44–1.67% with a mean of 1.15 ± 0.58% SD.
Fig. 2 Visual representation of annual female life cycle. TM = total mass loss in breeding haulout, PEM = pre-partum mass loss, LML = lactation mass loss. a = breeding season arrival photogrammetry (PG) mass, b = pre-partum PG mass, c = post-partum PG mass, d = days elapsed, e = breeding season departure PG mass, p = partum. MML = moult mass loss, m1 = first moult PG, m2 = second moult PG, y = moult arrival mass, x = moult departure mass.
Fig. 3 Photomodeler® example: three-dimensional model of a female southern elephant seal used to estimate body mass. Substrate markers and camera positioning are indicated.
Table I Predictive equations to approximate body mass of southern elephant seals. Full view needs at least eight photos including all perpendicular and side angles. PBM = predicted body mass, ME = mass estimate from photogrammetric method (kg) (with permission from de Bruyn et al. (Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009)).
Calculation of date of birth, and pre- and post-partum mass
Daily observations along the coastal study area allowed determination of the exact weaning date for all pups, as well as the concomitant departure date for all mothers, in order to calculate the mean duration of suckling. Repeated daily observations allowed a linear time model to be created, from which we could calculate exact time of weaning and mother departure (the two are not always the same, but mostly they are). Using linear time model mean suckling duration, timing of PG projects and censuses could be used to calculate the date of birth from weaning date for each individual.
Pre- and post-partum PG projects were performed to assess birthing mass loss for all mothers (Fig. 3). Thirteen females were photographed on arrival. Of these, six females were also photographed immediately pre-partum and pre-departure. The remaining females’ arrival mass was estimated by multiplying the calculated mean daily mass loss pre-partum from the 13 females (with arrival PG) with days elapsed between arrival and birth. Additionally, daily mass loss between post-partum PG mass estimates and pre-departure PG mass estimates were calculated from 16 females that all had both a post-partum PG and a pre-departure PG mass estimate. Where post-partum PG projects could not be done immediately following parturition, mean daily post-partum mass loss (as calculated from the above 16 females) was multiplied with number of days between post-partum PG and date of birth to obtain estimated mass at the start of lactation (MAB, Table II). Similar mass loss rates in pre-partum (mean = 3.8 ± 1.7 kg) and post-partum (mean = 7.0 ± 2.9 kg) between six individuals with photogrammetry at arrival, immediately post-partum and pre-departure supports our assumption of using mean mass loss rate in calculation of mass at specific instances for those females where a particular PG was missing. A mean of 34.1 kg for female pups and 40.3 kg for male pups (Wilkinson & Van Aarde Reference Wilkinson and van Aarde2001) and a placenta mass of 3.5 kg (Arnbom et al. Reference Arnbom, Fedak and Boyd1997) were added to estimate mass just before birth (MBB). If pup sex was unknown (n = 4), a mean value of 37.2 kg was used. Twelve females were photographed on the day of departure, the remaining females’ departure mass was estimated by multiplying the calculated mean mass loss per day (post-partum) with the days elapsed between departure and previous PG.
Table II A summary of acronyms used in the study.
Breeding haulout equations
Pre-partum mass loss (PEM), lactation mass loss (LML) and absolute mass loss (TM) were calculated for each female using the following equations:
$$PEM\, = \, Mas{{s}_{arrival}} - Mas{{s}_{pre\, \_\, partum}}.\eqno\rm$$
$$LML\, = \, Mas{{s}_{birth}}\, - \, Mas{{s}_{departure}}.\eqno\rm$$
$$TM\, = \, Mas{{s}_{arrival}}\, - \, Mas{{s}_{departure}}.\eqno\rm$$
Daily mass loss rates for the pre-partum period were calculated for animals that had arrival PG mass estimates (n = 13) using the following equation:
$$PE{{M}_{daily}}\, = {\vskip -6pt{{Mas{{s}_{arrival}}\, - \, Mas{{s}_{pre\, \_\, partum\!\!}}}}_\Big/{\!\vskip 10pt d}\,.\eqno\rm$$
Daily mass loss rates for the post-partum period were calculated for animals with post-partum and departure PG mass estimates (n = 16) using the following equation:
$$LM{{L}_{daily}}\, = \, {{\vskip -6ptMas{{s}_{post\, \_\, partum}}\, - \, Mas{{s}_{departure\!\!}}}}\Big/{\!\vskip 5pt d}\,.\eqno\rm$$
In order to calculate the amount of mass loss as a result of parturition, the difference between mass directly after and before parturition was measured. Daily mass loss rates were used to calculate the mass of female southern elephant seals directly after parturition using the following equation:
$$Mas{{s}_{after\, \_\, birth}}\, = \, Mas{{s}_{post\, - \, partum}}\, + \, (d\, \times \, LM{{L}_{daily}})\, .\eqno\rm$$
Pup mass and placenta mass were added to obtain mass estimates directly before birth (as described earlier). If no post-partum PG mass estimates were available, mass directly before birth was estimated from arrival PG mass estimates as:
$$Mas{{s}_{before\, \_\, birth}}\, = \, Mas{{s}_{arrival}}\, - \, (d\thnsp \times \thnsp PE{{M}_{daily}})\, .\eqno\rm$$
If mass before birth was obtained as described in Eq. (7), pup mass (Wilkinson & Van Aarde Reference Wilkinson and van Aarde2001) and placenta mass (Arnbom et al. Reference Arnbom, Fedak and Boyd1997) was subtracted to obtain mass after birth.
Moult haulout equations
Moult mass loss (MML), was calculated for each female using the following equation:
$$MML\thnsp = \thnsp Mas{{s}_{arrival}}\thnsp - \thnsp Mas{{s}_{departure}}\, .\eqno\rm$$
Daily mass loss rates for the moult period were calculated for animals that had both post arrival - and pre-departure PG mass estimates (n = 13) using the following equation:
$$MM{{L}_{daily}}\thnsp = \thnsp {{\vskip -6ptMas{{s}_{post\thnsp \_\, arrival}}\thnsp - \thnsp Mas{{s}_{pre\thnsp \_\thnsp departure}}}}\Big/{\!\vskip 5pt d}\,\,.\eqno\rm$$
The duration of the post-breeding foraging phase and the moult durations were obtained through the continuous mark-resighting programme associated with the ten day resighting cycle (Fig. 1). Due to the nature of the moult haulout and the ten day resighting cycle a mean moult duration was applied to animals that arrived and departed between sightings to obtain moult arrival and departure mass, using the following equations:
$$Mas{{s}_{arrival}}\thnsp = \thnsp Mas{{s}_{post\thnsp \_\, arrival}}\thnsp + \thnsp (d\thnsp \times \thnsp MM{{L}_{daily}})\, .\eqno\rm$$
$$Mas{{s}_{departure}}\thnsp = \thnsp Mas{{s}_{pre\thnsp \_\, departure}}\thnsp - \thnsp (d\thnsp \times \thnsp MM{{L}_{daily}})\, .\eqno\rm$$
Similarly a mean mass loss per day was used for animals that did not have an individual mass loss per day recorded due to a lack of two photogrammetry projects.
Statistical analysis
The program R version 2.13.1 (R Development Core Team 2011) was used for statistical analysis. Breeding and moult data from different islands were compared statistically using an ANOVA and post hoc TukeyHSD test. Normality was tested using a Shapiro-Wilks test, and if absent, data was log transformed. Mass loss per day in the moult was statistically compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. A t-test was used for post-breeding foraging duration comparison. Significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results
Breeding period
Comparisons between female southern elephant seals from Marion Island (MI) n = 23, King George Island (KGI) n = 12 and South Georgia (SG) n = 27 focussed on: post-partum mass (Fig. 4), duration of lactation, absolute and percentage mass loss during the lactation period (calculated from post-partum mass) (Fig. 5) (Table III) for females aged 3–18 years. Mass after parturition from MI differed significantly (P < 0.001) from KGI and from SG (P = 0.02) (Table IV). Lactation mass loss significantly differed from KGI (P < 0.001) and SG (P = 0.01). Percentage mass loss during the course of lactation from MI did not differ from KGI (P = 0.9) or SG (P = 0.9) (Table IV). Post-partum mass loss per day (mean = 7.5 ± 2.3 kg day-1) was similar to the South Georgia population (mean = 7.9 ± 1.4 kg day-1).
Fig. 4 Mass comparison at the start of lactation between female southern elephant seals from Marion Island, King George Island (n = 12 (Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997)) and South Georgia (n = 27 (Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996)).
Fig. 5 Percentage mass loss during the lactation period for female southern elephant seals from Marion Island, King George Island and South Georgia.
Table III Breeding seasons from Marion Island 2009/10, King George Island 1994/95 and South Georgia 1986 and 1988 are compared on the basis of post-partum mass (kg), duration of lactation (days), mass loss (kg) and percentage lactation mass loss (%). Similarly, post-breeding foraging phases are compared on basis of foraging duration (days), mass gained (kg), rate of mass gain (kg day-1) and percentage mass gained during post-breeding foraging phase (%). Values for post-breeding foraging for Macquarie Island were not available.
°This study, 1Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997, 2Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996.
Table IV P values from ANOVA for breeding and moult comparisons of Marion Island, King George Island, South Georgia and Macquarie Island. Parturition mass (mass at the start of lactation), lactation mass loss and percentage mass loss during lactation are compared for the breeding season. Arrival mass, mass loss and duration are compared for the moult haulout period.
°This study, 1Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997, 2Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996, 3Boyd et al. Reference Boyd, Arnbom and Fedak1993, 4Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Slip and Burton1994, 5Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999.
Post-breeding pelagic foraging period
Female pelagic foraging aspects that were compared between populations were: time spent foraging, absolute mass gained, rate of mass gain and percentage mass gained (Table III). Time spent at sea for MI individuals ranged from 48–92 days (mean = 68 ± 10.7 days). King George Island females ranged from 51–71 days (mean = 60.5 ± 6.2) with T (-2.7) = 32, P = 0.01 (Table III). Mass gain in the post-breeding foraging phase for MI ranged from 119.3–261.3 kg (mean = 155.8 ± 32.4 kg) and KGI ranged from 94.0–204.0 kg (mean = 132 ± 35.6 kg) with T (-1.9) = 20.6, P = 0.07 (Table III). Percentage lactation mass recovery for MI females ranged from 50.1 to 167.5% (mean = 97.7 ± 27.9%) of mass lost in the lactation period.
Moult period
The initial moult haulout mass, duration of the moult, total mass loss and mass loss per day for the obligatory moult phase at MI were compared to KGI, SG and Macquarie Island (MAQ) (Table V). Total mass loss for the duration of the moult ranged from 102.1–233.1 kg (mean = 150 ± 27 kg, Table V). Moult arrival mass from MI is significantly different (P < 0.001) from KGI and is similar to SG (P = 0.4) and MAQ (P = 0.9) (Table V). Mass loss during the moult from MI significantly differs from SG and MAQ (P < 0.001) but MI and KGI do not differ (P = 0.1). Similar results were found for moult duration, where MI significantly differs from SG and MAQ (P < 0.001) but MI and KGI do not differ (P = 0.3) (Table IV).
Table V Comparison of four different female southern elephant seal populations during the moult. Comparison was made between initial mass when females arrived, duration of the moult, mass loss per day and total mass.
°This study, 1Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999, 2Boyd et al. Reference Boyd, Arnbom and Fedak1993, 3Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Slip and Burton1994.
Discussion
Photogrammetry effectiveness over a temporal scale
Percentage mass loss during the lactation period for KGI is similar to SG (McCann et al. Reference McCann, Fedak and Harwood1989, Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom, McConnell, Chambers, Boyd, Harwood and McCann1994, Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999) and indicates that females lose c. 35% of their mass during lactation. Similar percentage lactation mass loss among populations would indicate that there are set physiological limitations devoted to lactation. No significant differences were found between percentage mass loss from the geographically separated populations at MI, KGI and SG with percentage mass loss apparently a constant in the species (e.g. McCann et al. Reference McCann, Fedak and Harwood1989, Le Boeuf & Laws Reference Le Boeuf and Laws1994, Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996, Arnbom et al. Reference Arnbom, Fedak and Boyd1997, Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997, Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999, this study). Although females from MI are smaller in absolute size (this study) their percentage mass loss is similar to those of KGI and SG. These results indicate that photogrammetric mass estimation can be used alongside datasets of physically weighed animals for comparative studies. Photogrammetry is an effective method for measuring and comparing mass change of female southern elephant seals over time. Of all photogrammetry projects done, 91.5% solved accurately (following the ‘accuracy checking’ procedure outlined in de Bruyn et al. (Reference De Bruyn, Bester, Carlini and Oosthuizen2009)), even though PG was done in various environments, ranging from flat sandy beaches, undulating boulder beaches, grassy Cotula areas and moult wallows (present study). Over 1000 projects have been performed since 2006 during which time the field method was improved to make analysis easier and less time consuming. Currently, the method is fast and efficient and multiple projects can be done on one day whilst collecting a multitude of other data. Less than 10% of photogrammetric projects failed due to environmental and photographic limitations. Through photogrammetric mass estimation on specific individuals, a longitudinal database can be established.
Spatial variation in female southern elephant seal mass
Numerous studies have investigated lactation parameters (e.g. McCann et al. Reference McCann, Fedak and Harwood1989, Le Boeuf & Laws Reference Le Boeuf and Laws1994, Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996, Arnbom et al. Reference Arnbom, Fedak and Boyd1997, Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Daneri, Marquez, Soave and Poljak1997, Reference Carlini, Marquez, Daneri and Poljak1999, McMahon et al. Reference McMahon, Burton and Bester2000) and thus it is the logical starting point to compare separate populations in the breeding season and the first step to validation of the analytical mass estimation over time. The mean duration of lactation does not differ significantly between populations (P = 0.8). Females spend c. 23 days suckling their young (Table III). However, female mass after parturition differs greatly between MI, KGI and SG. Females from MI are c. 200 kg lighter at the beginning of lactation than their counterparts at KGI and c. 60 kg lighter than females from SG (present study). Females from KGI and SG are larger at arrival. Larger size is advantageous in terms of the amount of energy available for lactation (Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Panarello, Ramdohr, Daneri, Bornemann and Plötz2004). Similarly absolute lactation mass loss for female southern elephant seals from MI is significantly different from those at KGI and SG. This is not surprising as females from KGI and SG are significantly larger than MI females at the start of lactation (this study). Females from MI lose c. 80 kg less mass than their counterparts on KGI and c. 30 kg less than females from SG (present study). Greater absolute energy loss from larger females is positively related to greater energy gain by their pup (Carlini et al. Reference Carlini, Marquez, Panarello, Ramdohr, Daneri, Bornemann and Plötz2004). Pups are dependent on the mass acquired by a female during foraging to grow and successfully wean. In addition, the greater the weaning mass of southern elephant seal pups the higher the probability of survival (McMahon et al. Reference McMahon, Burton and Bester2000, Reference McMahon, Burton and Bester2003). Female size and reserves at parturition proved to be the most significant factors determining pup mass gain in large phocid seals (e.g. Fedak et al. Reference Fedak, Arnbom and Boyd1996).
Smaller marine mammals spend less time submerged and less time foraging at any given depth (Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Lea, Morrice and McMahon2000). The ability to forage for longer periods at depth would be advantageous for resource acquisition and mass gain. In addition, smaller individuals will have a higher mass specific metabolic rate than larger individuals (Kleiber's law, Kleiber Reference Kleiber1947). The higher mass specific metabolic rate for females at MI compared to larger females from KGI and SG could in extreme cases lead to smaller individuals adopting different feeding strategies or focus on different prey species (e.g. Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Lea, Morrice and McMahon2000). The mass acquired in aquatic foraging is a good indication of the availability of food on feeding grounds and the success of female foraging (Boyd & McCann Reference Boyd and McCann1989).
Historically sealing threatened southern elephant seal population numbers more than food availability. In the previous centuries, southern elephant seals were exploited for their oil which diminished their numbers drastically (Laws Reference Laws1994). After 1964 when sealing was stopped, the South Georgia and Peninsula Valdes southern elephant seal populations either remained stable or increased (Boyd & Croxall Reference Boyd and Croxall1996). While SG and KGI populations increased or stabilized others decreased, 83% for MI (Pistorius et al. Reference Pistorius, De Bruyn and Bester2011), and 57% for MAQ (Laws Reference Laws1994). The availability of prey has often been hypothesized to be the main factor determining population status in the MI and MAQ populations (Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Slip and Burton1994, Pistorius et al. Reference Pistorius, De Bruyn and Bester2011). The drastic decline in MI population size since the 1950s (McMahon et al. Reference McMahon, Bester, Burton, Hindell and Bradshaw2005) may be attributed to the anthropomorphic disturbance caused by sealing in the 1800s and early 1900s (Richards Reference Richards1992) and possibly the prolonged illegal fisheries in the area around the island before the establishment of the exclusive economic zone in 1996 (Pakhomov & Chown Reference Pakhomov and Chown2003).
Such long-term resource exploitation could stunt growth (Trites & Donnelly Reference Trites and Donnelly2003). Such large-scale events may cause the reduction in body size of an entire generation and have potential long-term consequences for female body size (Huston & Wolverton Reference Huston and Wolverton2011). A recent study of polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps) in Alaska has shown a decrease in offspring skull and body length as well as body size in years of reduced sea ice (prey availability) (Rode et al. Reference Rode, Amstrup and Regehr2010). Similar findings were found in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus Schreber) with reduced body size and body condition due to a lower nutritional plane (Rosen Reference Rosen2009). On the contrary, high food availability per animal is paramount in determining adult body size and can allow high population growth rates (e.g. fecundity and survival) (Huston & Wolverton Reference Huston and Wolverton2011). It is presumed that the more stable Atlantic southern elephant seal population is in some way connected to more abundant resources (Vergani et al. Reference Vergani, Stanganelli and Bilenca2001). Thus KGI (stable) and SG (stable) (McMahon et al. Reference McMahon, Bester, Burton, Hindell and Bradshaw2005) populations presumably have higher food availability per capita as compared to the smaller MI females (previously declining).
The nutritional stress hypothesis may explain this phenomenon. It states that a negative physiological or behavioural state (e.g. reduced body size or productivity) emerges due to low quantity or quality food availability for animals (Trites & Donnelly Reference Trites and Donnelly2003). The global population declined between 1950 and 1990 (Laws Reference Laws1994) and the physiologically smaller female body size (this study) as well as the behavioural modification of females skipping breeding seasons (de Bruyn et al. Reference De Bruyn, Tosh, Bester, Cameron, McIntyre and Wilkinson2011) at MI, all indicate a scenario that can be explained by the nutritional stress hypothesis. Significantly longer foraging in the post-breeding foraging phase supports this hypothesis. The variation could be due to differences in prey availability between respective foraging grounds. Females from KGI travel to the area west of the Antarctic Peninsula (McConnell & Fedak Reference McConnell and Fedak1996, Bornemann et al. Reference Bornemann, Kreyscher, Ramdorhr, Martin, Carlini, Sellmann and Plötz2000) and MI females travel predominantly to the south and south-west of the island (McIntyre et al. Reference McIntyre, De Bruyn, Ansorge, Bester, Bornemann, Plötz and Tosh2010). The difference between the two post-breeding foraging phases is about eight days (Table III). KGI is less than one day's travel from some highly productive areas west of the Antarctic Peninsula (McConnell & Fedak Reference McConnell and Fedak1996, Bornemann et al. Reference Bornemann, Kreyscher, Ramdorhr, Martin, Carlini, Sellmann and Plötz2000), whereas it could take females at MI three or four days to “commute” to their feeding areas south and south-west of the island (McIntyre et al. Reference McIntyre, De Bruyn, Ansorge, Bester, Bornemann, Plötz and Tosh2010). Percentage mass gain in the post-breeding foraging phase was also significantly higher for MI females than those at KGI (P < 0.001). The higher percentage of lactation mass regained for MI could be attributed to extended post-breeding foraging duration and the smaller size of females at MI. As there is no significant difference in rate of mass gain between MI females and their counterparts on KGI (P = 0.6) and females from MI spend more time foraging, absolute mass gain at the latter island should be greater. On the contrary, absolute mass gain between MI and KGI did not differ significantly (P = 0.07).
Following the post-breeding foraging phase, females return for the moult. At arrival females from MI weigh c. 80 kg less than those from KGI and c. 40 kg less than those at SG. Perhaps unsurprisingly, females from MI did not differ significantly from those at MAQ that also experienced prolonged population decline (Laws Reference Laws1994). Females from MI arrive for both terrestrial haulouts with a lower mass than their counterparts at KGI and SG. It appears that the mass loss in the moulting period on MI is similar to that of the mass loss during the lactation period, contrary to findings for other populations. The smaller size and the relatively similar absolute mass gain in the post-breeding foraging phase compared to larger females elsewhere, implies larger percentage mass gain at MI.
Due to differences in the observed time spent ashore for MI and KGI compared to MAQ and SG (probably because of sampling artefacts rather than the actual time spent ashore) we dismissed the comparison of moult duration. For females from SG (Boyd et al. Reference Boyd, Arnbom and Fedak1993) and MAQ (Hindell et al. Reference Hindell, Slip and Burton1994) it is difficult to obtain an exact time spent ashore as females were either unmarked and/or observations are infrequent, while the relatively small size of MI as well as the ongoing extensive mark-resighting programme facilitates calculation of the approximate duration of the moult (Kirkman et al. Reference Kirkman, Bester, Pistorius, Hofmeyr, Jonker, Owen and Strydom2003). Rate of mass gain (mean = 2.34 ± 0.56 kg day-1) in the post-breeding pelagic foraging phase is approximately similar between populations, which poses the question of why female body mass at the end of parturition differs so greatly? Perhaps a clue is evident in the observed difference in population trajectories between KGI, SG (stable/increasing) and MI (previously declining). Prey availability per individual has probably increased which is evident in the increase in weaning mass (McMahon et al. Reference McMahon, Burton and Bester2003), larger percentage mass gain in post-breeding foraging phase (this study) and recent population stabilization at MI (Pistorius et al. Reference Pistorius, De Bruyn and Bester2011), which is indicative of a recovering population. Weaning mass is a function of maternal energy reserves which females acquire in their pelagic foraging bouts (Vergani et al. Reference Vergani, Stanganelli and Bilenca2001), therefore an increase in weaning mass provides a potentially useful indicator of prey availability and subsequently maternal energy reserves (Vergani et al. Reference Vergani, Labraga, Stanganelli and Dunn2008). Furthermore, variation in body size within a species does occur. Individuals in cooler or higher latitudes are larger than individuals in lower and warmer latitudes (Bergmann's rule, Bergmann Reference Bergmann1847). Under this hypothesis, southernmost populations of southern elephant seals are predisposed to larger size.
In conclusion, accurately measuring mass of southern elephant seal females throughout both terrestrial phases in the annual cycle enabled us to confirm the effectiveness of photogrammetry over a temporal scale. Mass change of individuals within the MI population could be explored and compared to other populations. Females from MI are smaller than their counterparts on KGI and SG, but have the same relative percentage mass loss during lactation compared to other populations. Smaller size may be due to a prolonged population decline as a result of anthropogenic disturbance or climate effect on prey availability. The smaller size of MI females could affect their reproductive and survival success.
Acknowledgements
We thank the South African Department of Environmental Affairs for providing logistical support within the South African National Antarctic Programme and the Department of Science and Technology (administered through the National Research Foundation) for funding the marine mammal monitoring programme at Marion Island. The Marion Island seal researchers of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are thanked for their endless hours of data collection and Cheryl Tosh for valuable comments on earlier versions of this paper. The comments by the editor and two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged and improved the manuscript.
