ACS Monterey Bay Program for January 2005
Development of diving in the threatened Australian Sea
Lion:
Trials of Adolescence in a Late Bloomer
 Photo © Dan Costa |
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| Speaker: Shannon Fowler, Ph.D. Candidate, U.C. Santa Cruz | |
The threatened Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea, is one of the few species of marine mammals in which adults regularly push their physiological limit (limit of oxygen stores) in order to forage. It also has one of the longest weaning periods at 17.5 months. This extended dependency has been thought to be an adaptation allowing pups time to develop demanding benthic foraging skills. Given that larger animals have disproportionately greater diving capabilities, how are pups and juveniles, with smaller body size, undeveloped oxygen stores and inexperience, successfully foraging?
Our speaker addressed this question by examining diving behavior, foraging locations, and diving physiology in mother/pup pairs and independent juveniles. The data she gathered allowed her to assess the foraging abilities of the animals at various life stages and will be a critical component in the conservation and management of this species, estimated to number only 10,000 and thought to be competing with multiple fisheries.
Shannon Fowler, whose advisor is Professor Dan Costa, conducted her study at Seal Bay Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Our chapter awarded her the Robert Bethel Research Grant to help in these studies.
Please join us for an examination of the life of one of the world's rarest pinnipeds.
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Australian sea lion photo copyright Dan Costa.Last updated February 2, 2005.