scholarly journals Movement patterns and activity levels are shaped by the neonatal environment in Antarctic fur seal pups

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Nagel ◽  
Sina Mews ◽  
Timo Adam ◽  
Claire Stainfield ◽  
Cameron Fox-Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Central Place ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Directed Movement ◽  
Antarctic Fur Seal ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Tussock Grass

AbstractTracking studies of juveniles are rare compared to those of adults and consequently, little is known about the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on activity during this critical life stage. We therefore collected GPS data from birth until moult from 66 Antarctic fur seal pups in two nearby but contrasting breeding colonies. The Special Study Beach (SSB) is a high-density colony separated from the inland tussock grass habitat by a steep gully, whereas Freshwater Beach (FWB) is a low-density colony that is topographically more open. We investigated the explanatory power of multiple individual-based and environmental variables using a hidden Markov model. We found that activity was typified by central place exploration, with directed movement away from and subsequent return to a location of low activity. The probability of such directed exploration was unaffected by several factors known to influence marine mammal movement including sex, body condition and temperature. Conversely, FWB pups were more active, increased their activity with age and transitioned earlier into the tussock grass, which offers protection from predators and extreme weather. Our study illustrates the profound importance of extrinsic factors to early movement and highlights the adaptive potential of movement in the face of environmental variability.

scholarly journals Movement patterns and activity levels are shaped by the neonatal environment in Antarctic fur seal pups

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Nagel ◽  
Sina Mews ◽  
Timo Adam ◽  
Claire Stainfield ◽  
Cameron Fox-Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Stage ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Central Place ◽  
Active Movement ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Antarctic Fur Seal ◽  
Fur Seal

AbstractTracking studies of juveniles are rare compared to those of adults, and consequently little is known about the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on activity during this critical life stage. We used hourly GPS data, collected from 66 Antarctic fur seal pups from birth until moulting, to investigate the explanatory power of multiple individual-based and environmental variables on activity levels. Pups were sampled from two nearby breeding colonies of contrasting density during two subsequent years, and a two-state hidden Markov model was used to identify modalities in their movement behaviour, specifically ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states. We found that movement was typified by central place exploration, with active movement away from and subsequent return to a location of inactivity. The probability of such directed exploration was unaffected by several factors known to influence marine mammal movement including sex, body condition, and temperature. Compared to pups born at the high-density colony, pups at low-density were more active, increased their activity with age, and transitioned earlier into the tussock grass, which offers protection from predators and extreme weather. Our study illustrates the importance of extrinsic factors, such as colony of birth, to early-life activity patterns and highlights the adaptive potential of movement.

scholarly journals Risk exposure trade-offs in the ontogeny of sexual segregation in Antarctic fur seal pups

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh A Jones ◽  
Hannah Wood ◽  
Jonathan P Ashburner ◽  
Jaume Forcada ◽  
Norman Ratcliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Sexual Segregation ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Antarctic Fur Seal ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tussock Grass

Abstract Sexual segregation has important ecological implications, but its initial development in early life stages is poorly understood. We investigated the roles of size dimorphism, social behavior, and predation risk on the ontogeny of sexual segregation in Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus gazella, pups at South Georgia. Beaches and water provide opportunities for pup social interaction and learning (through play and swimming) but increased risk of injury and death (from other seals, predatory birds, and harsh weather), whereas tussock grass provides shelter from these risks but less developmental opportunities. One hundred pups were sexed and weighed, 50 on the beach and 50 in tussock grass, in January, February, and March annually from 1989 to 2018. Additionally, 19 male and 16 female pups were GPS-tracked during lactation from December 2012. Analysis of pup counts and habitat use of GPS-tracked pups suggested that females had a slightly higher association with tussock grass habitats and males with beach habitats. GPS-tracked pups traveled progressively further at sea as they developed, and males traveled further than females toward the end of lactation. These sex differences may reflect contrasting drivers of pup behavior: males being more risk prone to gain social skills and lean muscle mass and females being more risk averse to improve chances of survival, ultimately driven by their different reproductive roles. We conclude that sex differences in habitat use can develop in a highly polygynous species prior to the onset of major sexual size dimorphism, which hints that these sex differences will increasingly diverge in later life.

scholarly journals Modulation of odour-guided behaviour in mosquitoes

2021 ◽  
Vol 383 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-206
Author(s):  
Sharon R. Hill ◽  
Rickard Ignell
Keyword(s):  
Functional Genomics ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Enhancing Resources ◽  
Maturation Age ◽  
Behavioural Repertoire

AbstractMosquitoes are emerging as model systems with which to study innate behaviours through neuroethology and functional genomics. Decades of work on these disease vectors have provided a solid behavioural framework describing the distinct repertoire of predominantly odour-mediated behaviours of female mosquitoes, and their dependence on life stage (intrinsic factors) and environmental cues (extrinsic factors). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how intrinsic factors, including adult maturation, age, nutritional status, and infection, affect the attraction to plants and feeding on plant fluids, host seeking, blood feeding, supplemental feeding behaviours, pre-oviposition behaviour, and oviposition in female mosquitoes. With the technological advancements in the recent two decades, we have gained a better understanding of which volatile organic compounds are used by mosquitoes to recognise and discriminate among various fitness-enhancing resources, and characterised their neural and molecular correlates. In this review, we present the state of the art of the peripheral olfactory system as described by the neural physiology, functional genomics, and genetics underlying the demonstrated changes in the behavioural repertoire in female mosquitoes. The review is meant as a summary introduction to the current conceptual thinking in the field.

Foraging behavior and predation success of the sand viper (Cerastes vipera)

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 520-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz Subach ◽  
Inon Scharf ◽  
Ofer Ovadia
Keyword(s):  
Length Ratio ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Hunger Level ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Thermal Range ◽  
Capture Success ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Consequent Increase

Activity levels and foraging success of ectotherms are dependent both on extrinsic factors (e.g., ambient temperature) and intrinsic factors (e.g., hunger level). We focus here on activity and foraging of sand vipers ( Cerastes vipera (L., 1758)) (Squamata: Viperidae) in the northwestern Negev desert of Israel. Viper activity is bounded by a specific thermal range, but within this range, temperature does not affect the distance moved. Movement distances are, however, positively correlated with relative humidity. The capture success of lizards, the main prey of this viper, is strongly related both to movement distances of the snake and to the number of the lizard burrows scanned. Body size and shape have a direct effect on the number of burrows scanned and on the number of lizards captured. The increase in capture success with size is probably due to the consequent increase in the range of prey items the sand viper can subdue or handle. Vipers are larger and have a higher mass to length ratio in one of the three study sites, characterized by higher mean annual rainfall and vegetation cover. Finally, females tend to have a higher mass to length ratio than males, which may provide some space within the female body for reproductive materials such as eggs.

scholarly journals Prey of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Marion Island

Polar Biology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Makhado ◽  
M. N. Bester ◽  
S. P. Kirkman ◽  
P. A. Pistorius ◽  
J. W. H. Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctocephalus Gazella ◽  
Marion Island ◽  
Antarctic Fur Seal ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
The Antarctic

Antarctic Fur Seal

2009 ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaume Forcada ◽  
Iain J. Staniland
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Fur Seal ◽  
Fur Seal

Navigating the online world of lifestyle health information: an adolescent perspective (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Raeside ◽  
Si Si Jia ◽  
Julie Redfern ◽  
Stephanie R Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Virtual Focus Groups ◽  
Online Lifestyle

BACKGROUND Adolescence is a critical life stage characterised by an interplay of biological, social and environmental factors. Such factors influence lifestyle health related trajectories, including dietary behaviours, physical activity levels, body weight and sleep hygiene. Generation Z (born 1995-2015) are the most internet-dependent and technologically savvy generation in history with increasing rates of smartphone ownership in both developed and developing nations. Gaps exist in our understanding of what online platforms adolescents are using and the barriers and facilitators of these platforms to seek lifestyle health information. OBJECTIVE We evaluated adolescents’ perceptions on the use of contemporary digital platforms (websites, social media platforms and smartphone apps) to seek information or advice related to lifestyle heath. METHODS Virtual focus groups were held via Zoom teleconference between July to August 2021. Eligible participants were 13-18 years, living in Australia and had searched for online lifestyle health information in the previous three months. For this study, lifestyle health information referred to key behaviours and risk factors for chronic disease, namely, diet, physical activity, weight management and sleep. Participants were recruited through an existing database of research participants and networks of the research team. Focus groups were analysed using the Framework approach, where data is systematically searched to recognize patterns in the data and manage, analyse and identify themes. Focus group audio files were transcribed verbatim and independently coded by two researchers (RR, SJ). Through an iterative and reflexive process, a final coding matrix was agreed on by all researchers and used to thematically analyse the data. RESULTS Five focus groups were held (n=32, mean age 16.3(1.4), 18/32, 56% female, 13/32, 41% spoke language other than English at home). Thematic analysis revealed participants searched for information both actively (e.g., on Google or YouTube) and passively (e.g., scrolling social media and using existing apps preloaded to their smartphone such as Apple ‘Health’, Samsung ‘Health’ or ‘Google Fit’ apps). Participants identified that the most helpful information was well-organised in terms of aesthetic appeal and layout, came from a credible and reliable source (e.g. any sponsorships disclosed) and expressed the need for the information to be relatable. Mixed views were reported for the application of lifestyle health information found online. Some participants reported behaviour change, while others noted that certain advice was hard to maintain and incorporate into their lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the abundance and complexity of lifestyle health information online for adolescents. Adolescents in the digital age seek access to information that is appealing, credible, relevant and actionable for lifestyle health behaviours. To appeal to the needs of adolescents, future interventions for adolescents relating to lifestyle health must consider co-design methodological approaches. Furthermore, the regulation of lifestyle health information available online warrants further investigation.

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