arnould-ontogenyofbodysize-2007.pdf (147.2 kB)
Ontogeny of body size and shape of Antarctic and subantarctic fur seals
journal contribution
posted on 2007-01-01, 00:00 authored by S Luque, E Miller, John ArnouldJohn Arnould, M Chambellant, C GuinetPre- and post-weaning functional demands on body size and shape of mammals are often in conflict, especially in species where weaning involves a change of habitat. Compared with long lactations, brief lactations are expected to be associated with fast rates of development and attainment of adult traits. We describe allometry and growth for several morphological traits in two closely related fur seal species with large differences in lactation duration at a sympatric site. Longitudinal data were collected from Antarctic (Arctocephalus gazella (Peters, 1875); 120 d lactation) and subantarctic (Arctocephalus tropicalis (Gray, 1872); 300 d lactation) fur seals. Body mass was similar in neonates of both species, but A. gazella neonates were longer, less voluminous, and had larger foreflippers. The species were similar in rate of preweaning growth in body mass, but growth rates of linear variables were faster for A. gazella pups. Consequently, neonatal differences in body shape increased over lactation, and A. gazella pups approached adult body shape faster than did A. tropicalis pups. Our results indicate that preweaning growth is associated with significant changes in body shape, involving the acquisition of a longer, more slender body with larger foreflippers in A. gazella. These differences suggest that A. gazella pups are physically more mature at approximately 100 d of age (close to weaning age) than A. tropicalis pups of the same age
History
Journal
Canadian journal of zoologyVolume
85Issue
12Pagination
1275 - 1285Publisher
NRC Research PressLocation
Ottawa, OntarioISSN
1480-3283Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2007, NRC CanadaUsage metrics
Keywords
arctocephalus gazellaarctocephalus tropicalisallometrybody massbody sizepreweaning growthScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineZoologyLION ZALOPHUS-CALIFORNIANUSARCTOCEPHALUS-TROPICALISCALLORHINUS-URSINUSAMSTERDAM ISLANDDIVING BEHAVIORTURNING PERFORMANCEENERGY-EXPENDITUREPINNIPED LACTATIONPOSTNATAL-GROWTHMACQUARIE ISLANDZoologyEcology
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