cape fur seal
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2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Martin ◽  
Tess Gridley ◽  
Simon Harvey Elwen ◽  
Isabelle Charrier
Keyword(s):  
Fur Seal ◽  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Martin ◽  
Tess Gridley ◽  
Simon Harvey Elwen ◽  
Isabelle Charrier

Communication is fundamental for the survival of animal species as signals are involved in many social interactions (mate selection, parental care, collective behaviours). The acoustic channel is an important modality used by birds and mammals to reliably exchange information among individuals. In group-living species, the propagation of vocal signals is limited due to the density of individuals and the background noise. Vocal exchanges are, therefore, challenging. This study is the first investigation into the acoustic communication system of the Cape fur seal (CFS), one of the most colonial mammals with breeding colonies of hundreds of thousands of individuals. We described the acoustic features and social function of five in-air call types from data collected at two colonies. Intra-species variations in these vocalizations highlight a potential ability to convey information about the age and/or sex of the emitter. Using two classification methods, we found that the five call types have distinguishable frequency features and occupy distinct acoustic niches indicating acoustic partitioning in the repertoire. The CFS vocalizations appear to contain characteristics advantageous for discrimination among individuals, which could enhance social interactions in their noisy and confusing acoustic environment. This study provides a basis for our understanding of the CFS acoustic communication system.


Author(s):  
Cora Delling ◽  
Denny Böttcher ◽  
Vivien Schiffbauer ◽  
Andreas Bernhard ◽  
Ronald Schmäschke

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 191369 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Kirkman ◽  
D. P. Costa ◽  
A.-L. Harrison ◽  
P. G. H. Kotze ◽  
W. H. Oosthuizen ◽  
...  

While marine top predators can play a critical role in ecosystem structure and dynamics through their effects on prey populations, how the predators function in this role is often not well understood. In the Benguela region of southern Africa, the Cape fur seal ( Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus ) population constitutes the largest marine top predator biomass, but little is known of its foraging ecology other than its diet and some preliminary dive records. Dive information was obtained from 32 adult females instrumented with dive recorders at the Kleinsee colony (29°34.17′ S, 16°59.80′ E) in South Africa during 2006–2008. Most dives were in the depth range of epipelagic prey species (less than 50 m deep) and at night, reflecting the reliance of Cape fur seals on small, vertically migrating, schooling prey. However, most females also performed benthic dives, and benthic diving was prevalent in some individuals. Benthic diving was significantly associated with the frequency with which females exceeded their aerobic dive limit. The greater putative costs of benthic diving highlight the potential detrimental effects to Cape fur seals of well-documented changes in the availability of epipelagic prey species in the Benguela.


Gene ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 578 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Pharo ◽  
Kylie N. Cane ◽  
Julia McCoey ◽  
Ashley M. Buckle ◽  
W.H. Oosthuizen ◽  
...  

Polar Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1381-1383
Author(s):  
Gwenith S. Penry ◽  
Ashwynn C. Baartman ◽  
Marthán N. Bester

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