Prenatal investment in the subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Yves Georges ◽  
Christophe Guinet
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Maternal Resources ◽  
Arctocephalus Tropicalis

We investigated prenatal investment in a large sexually dimorphic mammal, the subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean. Pups' sex ratio and body mass, body length, and body condition at birth were studied in relation to timing of birth and maternal characteristics (body length and body condition) during three consecutive breeding seasons. Pups' sex ratio did not differ from unity throughout the pupping period. The sex of the pup was related to neither maternal body length (i.e., maternal age) nor maternal body condition when mating occurred or at parturition (1 year later), which suggests that the sex ratio was not biased toward one sex during gestation. Newborn male pups were heavier and longer than female pups in all years. Longer mothers tended to arrive later in the season regardless of their body condition, and gave birth to heavier pups whatever the sex of the pup. Mothers in good condition gave birth to heavier male pups than mothers in poor condition, but no significant differences were found for female pups, suggesting that the costs of carrying male foetuses is higher than that of carrying female foetuses. Differences in allocation of maternal resources between male and female pups may be due to sex-related differences in body composition, since male pups were heavier than female pups for a given body length at birth. Thus, male and female foetuses may use maternal resources differently, with males growing in length whereas females appear to grow in body mass. The mothers we monitored over 2 consecutive years gave birth to pups that were similar in quality (in terms of birth mass) over years regardless of the sex of the previous pup and the mother's body length, suggesting that individual reproductive value is independent of maternal age. Furthermore, maternal body condition was not affected by the sex of the foetus, suggesting that there is no differential reproductive cost in carrying a male or a female foetus. Interannual differences in pup body size at birth suggest that environmental conditions such as prey availability during the last stages of gestation, and consequent maternal body condition, are important components of maternal investment in fur seals.

Interannual variation in birth mass and postnatal growth rate of Juan Fernández fur seals

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Ochoa-Acuña ◽  
John M Francis ◽  
Daryl J Boness
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Attendance Pattern

The objectives of this study were to establish body mass at birth, postnatal growth rate, and the factors that influence these parameters for the Juan Fernández fur seal, Arctocephalus philippii. Females of this species have an unusual attendance pattern in which foraging trips and shore visits last, on average, 12.3 and 5.3 days, respectively. Pup mass was obtained from cohorts born during the reproductive seasons in 1988 through 1992. Birth masses of male and female pups were significantly different, averaging 6.1 and 5.5 kg, respectively (F = 13.2, P < 0.0003, n = 238). Birth masses also differed among cohorts, being lowest in 1992 and highest in 1990. During the first 2 months of life, male and female pups grew at the same rate (79 ± 61.5 g · day-1 (mean ± SD); F[1] = 0.03, P = 0.8562). Interannual differences in growth rate during the first month were significant (F[4] = 8.14, P < 0.0001), as was the interaction between month and year effects (F[2] = 6.81, P = 0.0012). Growth rates for the 1990 cohort were lower than those in all other years except 1992. Birth masses and postnatal growth rates of Juan Fernández fur seal pups are comparable to those of other otariid species.

Studies on the behaviour on the South Ausralian fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson) II. Adult females and pups

1971 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Specific Location ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
O 47 ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Regular Patterns

A. forsteri pups were all weaned by 1 year old and were then totally absent from the island during the breeding season. The recorded intervals, for three tagged females, between apparent weaning of one pup and birth of the next were 29, 40, and 60 days. Some females became infested with barnacles during the period of feeding at sea prior to parturition. Adult females showed a high degree of fidelity to specific breeding colonies. Little specific behaviour, other than restlessness, preceded birth. Five observed births took from 5 sec to 4 min. Pups could swim when born. Male and female newborn pups weighed 4.41 =0.60 and 4.11 +O.47 kg respectively; the sex ratio was not significantly different from unity. Pups stayed with their mothers at a specific location for the first few days, after which the females began to feed at sea and the pups began to associate with each other. Females had not established regular patterns of presence and absence in the pupping colony by early February, but did so by late April. Females did not defend even newborn pups from approaching humans.

Effect of body size, body mass, and body condition on reproduction of female South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) in Namibia

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 1418-1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Guinet ◽  
Jean Paul Roux ◽  
Marielle Bonnet ◽  
Valérie Mison
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Implantation Rate ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation

The relationships between female reproductive parameters (fertility, pregnancy, and lactation status) and body mass, body condition, and body length in South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) were investigated over 4 years. Ovulation rate in every year was 100% despite interannual differences in female body condition index (BCI). The overall pregnancy rate was 79%. The proportion of pregnant females was related to BCI but not to body mass or body length. In good years, BCI decreased through the first part of the reproductive cycle to a minimum at implantation and increased again through pregnancy. In 1989, BCI declined over the whole reproductive cycle, and there was a higher proportion of nonpregnant females and failures of lactation. Thus, poor nutritional conditions may affect reproductive success through failure to rear a pup, and pup production the following year may also be reduced. This lower rate of pregnancy is partly explained by an increase in the incidence of spontaneous abortions, but other parameters such as a lower implantation rate are also likely to be involved.

The effect of maternal age and other factors on birth mass in the harbour seal

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Bowen ◽  
O. T. Oftedal ◽  
D. J. Boness ◽  
S. J. Iverson
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Harbour Seal ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Young Mothers ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Harbour Seals

We studied the effects of maternal age, maternal body mass at parturition, year of birth, birth date, pup sex, and developmental stage (as indicated by the presence of a foetal pelage called lanugo) on the birth mass of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Between 1987 and 1992, mass was obtained on 330 newborns and 259 of their mothers. Birth mass was significantly correlated with maternal mass (r = 0.42 for male pups; r = 0.32 for female pups). Among pups that had shed their lanugo, males were significantly heavier at birth (11.4 ± 0.09 kg, n = 107) than females (10.9 ± 0.09, n = 99). Birth mass increased significantly with maternal age (n = 71, range 4–12 years) even after the effects of maternal mass and pup sex were statistically removed. Mean birth mass varied significantly among years, from 10.5 to 11.5 kg. Newborns averaged 12.8% of maternal mass at parturition (84.8 ± 0.49 kg). Most (84%) pups had shed their lanugo before birth. Pups born with extensive lanugo were born earlier in the season and weighed about 20% less than pups born without lanugo. These data suggest that pups born with lanugo may be less developed than pups that had shed their foetal coat. Young mothers (4 and 5 years old) produced most of the underweight, lanugo-covered pups.

The DEVELOPMENT OF Elaeidobius kamerunicus FAUST POPULATION AFTER INTRODUCTION AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF OIL PALM FRUIT SET IN SERAM ISLAND, MOLLUCAS, INDONESIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Agus Eko Prasetyo ◽  
Agus Susanto
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Palm Fruit ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
North Sumatra ◽  
Female Flowers ◽  
Elaeidobius Kamerunicus

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the main pollinating agent in oil palm plantations in Indonesia today. The development of oil palm plantations in new areas requires introduction of these insects, moreover the new areas are located on different islands. First introduction of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust had been done from North Sumatra to Seram Island on 23 September 2013. The introduction was performed on larva and pupa stadium in 4-5 days post anthesising of male inflorescences. The introduction of E. kamerunicus using plywood boxes has an average risk of death by 7.89% at 6 days delivery period. Observation before releasing of the weevils showed that this insect was not detected in both of oil palm male and female flowers and the oil palm fruit set was very low approximately 11.27%. For about 500 weevils/ha were released in Marnuhu estate and could be developed into 362,401 weevils/ha in 5 months with 97.86% of oil palm sex ratio. The oil palm fruit sets were increased after 1 and 2 months introduction, 53.70% and 75.56 %, respectively. The lower sex ratio of oil palm or the more availability of male inflorescences make growth of E. kamerunicus population became faster and the greater number of weevils that visiting anthesising of female flowers make the higher value of oil palm fruit set.

The DEVELOPMENT OF Elaeidobius kamerunicus FAUST POPULATION AFTER INTRODUCTION AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF OIL PALM FRUIT SET IN SERAM ISLAND, MOLLUCAS, INDONESIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Agus Eko Prasetyo ◽  
Agus Susanto
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Palm Fruit ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
North Sumatra ◽  
Female Flowers ◽  
Elaeidobius Kamerunicus

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the main pollinating agent in oil palm plantations in Indonesia today. The development of oil palm plantations in new areas requires introduction of these insects, moreover the new areas are located on different islands. First introduction of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust had been done from North Sumatra to Seram Island on 23 September 2013. The introduction was performed on larva and pupa stadium in 4-5 days post anthesising of male inflorescences. The introduction of E. kamerunicus using plywood boxes has an average risk of death by 7.89% at 6 days delivery period. Observation before releasing of the weevils showed that this insect was not detected in both of oil palm male and female flowers and the oil palm fruit set was very low approximately 11.27%. For about 500 weevils/ha were released in Marnuhu estate and could be developed into 362,401 weevils/ha in 5 months with 97.86% of oil palm sex ratio. The oil palm fruit sets were increased after 1 and 2 months introduction, 53.70% and 75.56 %, respectively. The lower sex ratio of oil palm or the more availability of male inflorescences make growth of E. kamerunicus population became faster and the greater number of weevils that visiting anthesising of female flowers make the higher value of oil palm fruit set.

scholarly journals 373: Effect of maternal body mass index on inpatient postpartum opioid use

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. S257
Author(s):  
Shelly Soni ◽  
Matthew J. Blitz ◽  
Lakha Prasannan ◽  
Meir Greenberg ◽  
Michael Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Maternal Body Mass Index ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Maternal Body

scholarly journals Assessing the relationship between pregravid body mass index and risk of adverse maternal pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: prospective data in Southwest China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Chen ◽  
Ke Wan ◽  
Yunhui Gong ◽  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Yi Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Cesarean Delivery ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

AbstractThe relevance of pregestational body mass index (BMI) on adverse pregnancy outcomes remained unclear in Southwest China. This study aimed to investigate the overall and age-category specific association between pre-gestational BMI and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, preterm delivery, stillbirth, macrosomia, and small-for-gestational age (SGA) or large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates in Southwest China. Furthermore, it explores the relative importance of influence of pregravid BMI and maternal age on pregnancy outcomes. 51,125 Chinese singleton pregnant women were recruited as study subjects. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of pre-pregnancy BMI on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Gradient boosting machine was used to evaluate the relative importance of influence of pregravid BMI and maternal age on pregnancy outcomes. It is found that women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes except for SGA neonates, while pre-pregnancy underweight is a protective factor for GDM, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, macrosomia and LGA, but not SGA. Younger mothers are more susceptible to GDM and macrosomia neonates, while older mothers are more prone to preeclampsia. Pre-pregnancy BMI has more influence on various pregnancy outcomes than maternal age. To improve pregnancy outcomes, normal BMI weight as well as relatively young maternal ages are recommended for women in child-bearing age.

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