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

威德尔海豹是在靠近南极大陆的浮冰或快冰地区发现的。自20世纪60年代中期以来，这个物种一直是麦克默多湾长期人口研究的焦点。这一数据集是世界上为数不多的同类数据集之一，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。在本研究的框架内，将使用最新开发的分子生物学技术对繁殖系统和生殖适应性进行检查。通过对繁殖雄性的父权分析，对行为生态学和交配系统进行检查，将为这种水生繁殖物种的繁殖成功率和有效种群规模提供精确的估计。这项研究的第二个方面将集中于人口统计，这是与现有30年数据基有关的年度分析、参数估计和假设检验的继续。这方面的一个新补充是对人口动态的全面分析，重点是移民和移民在人口动态中所起的作用。作为世界上最南端的哺乳动物，威德尔海豹具有极强的环境适应性。了解在这种环境中采用的策略将有助于基本了解鳍足动物的进化和种群动态以及海洋哺乳动物的竞争。

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.