The terrestrial behavior of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor, at Miquelon

Davis, Michael Benjamin (1984) The terrestrial behavior of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina concolor, at Miquelon. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (9MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

A breeding colony of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) was studied from close range at Miquelon. Quantitative records were kept of the manner in which the herds settled onto sand flats exposed at low tide. The pattern with which various sexes and age classes assembled on the beach, their site fidelity, the role of agonistic behavior and play, the impact of human and natural disturbances and the manner in which the seals returned to sea were compared over segments of the breeding and moulting seasons. Contrary to some earlier beliefs that these seals are merely loosely gregarious, the results suggested that they are organized socially, though in a simpler fashion than those pinnipeds which copulate on land.

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