Physiological Development anmd Survival of Juvenile Weddell Seals

这项科学调查的主题是威德尔海豹第一年的生理、行为和生存。对于威德尔海豹来说，这一时期包括短暂的母海豹依赖期（6周），游泳和潜水能力的发展，以及随着滨冰转变为浮冰和开放水域，从出生群体中分散出去。这是任何哺乳动物生命周期中最不为人所知的方面，可能是影响其生存到成年并最终繁殖成功的最重要时期。重点关注以下几个方面：1)与母体投入、断奶和潜水能力发展相关的生理变化；2)利用卫星遥测技术研究幼崽第一年的潜水行为和扩散的个体发生。3)利用卫星遥测技术对年龄较大的幼鱼（1-2岁）潜水和动作进行比较研究。4)对影响幼鼠第一年运动状况的母体、生理、生理和行为因素进行相关研究；5)继续测量麦克默多湾威德尔海豹的种群规模、存活率和生产力，作为对其种群动态的持续长期研究和解释幼崽状况或行为的年际变化的背景。

The physiology, behavior, and survival of Weddell seals in their first year of life is the subject of this scientific investigation. For Weddell seals, this period encompasses the brief period of maternal dependence (6 weeks), development of swimming and diving abilities and dispersal from natal colonies as shore-fast ice turns to pack ice and open water. It is the least known aspect of the life cycle of any mammal and likely to be the most important period affecting their survival to adulthood and eventual reproductive success. The following areas will be emphasized: 1) physical and physiological changes related to maternal investment, weaning, and development of diving abilities; 2) the ontogeny of diving behavior and dispersal of pups in their first year using satellite telemetry. 3) comparative study of diving and movements by older juveniles (1-2 years old) using satellite telemetry. 4) correlative study of the maternal, physical, physiological and behavioral factors that affect the movements, condition possibly the survival of pups in their first year of life; and 5) continued measurement of population size, survival rates and productivity of Weddell seals in McMurdo Sound as a continued long term study of their population dynamics and context for interpreting interannual variation in condition or behavior of juveniles.