Use of a Long-Term Data Base and Molecular Genetic Techniques to Examine the Behavioral Ecology and Dynamics ofWeddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) Population

利用长期数据库和分子遗传学技术研究威德尔海豹（Leptonychotes weddellii）种群的行为生态学和动力学

• 批准号: 9725820
• 负责人: Donald Siniff
• 金额: $ 41.71万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-07-01 至 2003-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9725820&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Use; Long; Term; Data; Base

Donald B. Siniff OPP-9725820 Abstract The Weddell seal is found in regions of pack ice or fast ice close to the Antarctic continent. This species has been the focus for long-term population studies in McMurdo Sound since the mid-1960's. This data set, one of the few of its kind in the world, has provided valuable knowledge towards an understanding of the survival and reproductive patterns of a long-lived vertebrate. Within the framework of this study, an examination of the breeding system and reproductive fitness will be conducted, using recently developed techniques in molecular biology. An examination of the behavioral ecology and mating system through paternity analysis of breeding males will provide precise estimates of reproductive success and effective population size in this aquatic breeding species. A second aspect of the study will focus on population demographics, which is a continuation of the annual analyses, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing associating with the existing 30-year data base. A new addition to this aspect is a comprehensive analysis of the population dynamics focusing on the role that immigration and emigration play in the population dynamics. As the southern-most breeding mammal in the world, the Weddell seal exemplifies an extreme in environmental adaptability. Knowledge of the strategies employed in this environment will contribute to the basic understanding of pinniped evolution and population dynamics and competition in marine mammals.

唐纳德·B·辛尼夫OPP-9725820摘要威德尔海豹发现于南极大陆附近的厚冰或快速冰区。自20世纪60年代中期S以来，这一物种一直是麦克默多海峡长期种群研究的焦点。这一数据集是世界上为数不多的此类数据之一，为了解长寿脊椎动物的生存和繁殖模式提供了宝贵的知识。在这项研究的框架内，将使用最近发展起来的分子生物学技术对繁殖系统和生殖适合度进行检查。通过对繁殖雄性的亲子关系分析来检查行为生态和交配系统，将为这种水生繁殖物种的繁殖成功和有效种群数量提供准确的估计。这项研究的第二个方面将侧重于人口统计，这是与现有30年数据库相关的年度分析、参数估计和假设检验的继续。对这一方面的新补充是对人口动态的全面分析，重点是移民和迁出在人口动态中所起的作用。作为世界上最南端的繁殖哺乳动物，韦德尔海豹体现了极端的环境适应能力。对在这种环境中采用的策略的了解将有助于基本理解鳍足动物的进化以及海洋哺乳动物的种群动态和竞争。