Description of the Pregnancies, Labours, and Pre- and Post-Partum Events of Two Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) in a Zoological Environment

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Anne Blanchet ◽  
Genevieve Desportes ◽  
Tiffany Nance ◽  
Cecilia Vanman
Keyword(s):  
Post Partum ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Harbour Seals

Thyroid hormone dynamics during the nursing period in harbour seals, Phoca vitulina

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Haulena ◽  
David J Aubin ◽  
Padraig J Duignan
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Harbour Seals ◽  
Total Thyroxine ◽  
Phocid Seals ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Circulating Levels

The postnatal period in phocid seals is metabolically demanding, requiring mobilization of maternal energy stores, which are then transferred via the milk for subsequent deposition in the pup. Thyroid hormones may be important modulators of these processes, and so we monitored circulating levels of free and total thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and reverse T3 (rT3) in 13 free-ranging female harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and their pups for up to 25 days post partum. Early total and free T4 levels, percentage of free T4, total and free T3 levels, rT3 levels, and rT3:T3 ratios were significantly higher in pups than in mothers. Total and free T4 levels, percentage of free T4, free T3 and rT3, levels, and rT3:T3 ratios in pups decreased significantly over the lactation period, while maternal total and free T4 levels increased significantly. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of thyroid hormones and their involvement in regulating metabolism throughout this important period. This is the first report examining free T3 and rT3 levels in phocid seals.

Diving behaviour of lactating harbour seals and their pups during maternal foraging trips

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 978-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
W D Bowen ◽  
D J Boness ◽  
S J Iverson
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Dive Duration ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Harbour Seals ◽  
Lactating Females

Female harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) undertake foraging trips during mid to late lactation. We show that they are accompanied by their pup during many of these foraging trips. Time-depth recorder data were obtained from 20 lactating females and 14 of their pups in 1995 and 1996 at Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Overall, females spent 55.4 ± 4.68% (mean ± SE) of their time at sea compared with 39.8 ± 2.29% for pups. Like those of their mothers, pups' dives occurred in clusters or bouts: 71.4 ± 4.4 dives, 2.5 ± 0.15 h in duration. Bouts of diving by females and pups began 0-3 days post partum. Mean dive duration of pups increased from about 1 to 1.5 min over the course of lactation, but was still shorter than that of adult females (1.5-2.25 min). Both females and pups appeared to dive within their theoretical aerobic dive limits (TADL) of 8.9 and 2.6-3.1 min, respectively. Up to 3.6% of dives by some pups may have exceeded their TADL. Pups appeared to compensate for their lesser diving ability by making more and shorter dives per bout than females, particularly during early lactation.

The influence of underwater data transmission sounds on the displacement behaviour of captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald A. Kastelein ◽  
Sander van der Heul ◽  
Willem C. Verboom ◽  
Rob J.V. Triesscheijn ◽  
Nancy V. Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Data Transmission ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Harbour Seals

scholarly journals Aerial low-frequency hearing in captive and free-ranging harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) measured using auditory brainstem responses

2016 ◽  
Vol 202 (12) ◽  
pp. 859-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Lucke ◽  
Gordon D. Hastie ◽  
Kerstin Ternes ◽  
Bernie McConnell ◽  
Simon Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Harbour Seals ◽  
Free Ranging

Haulout behaviour of High Arctic harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina vitulina ) in Svalbard, Norway

Polar Biology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Reder ◽  
C. Lydersen ◽  
W. Arnold ◽  
K. M. Kovacs
Keyword(s):  
High Arctic ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Harbour Seals
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