GCMD

Analysis of the condition of female (body fat and protein composition, weight and diet) Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and the implication for reproductive success

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Unknown
Publication_Date: Unknown
Title: Analysis of the condition of female (body fat and protein composition, weight and diet) Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and the implication for reproductive success

Description:

Abstract:: Weddell seals lay down substantial fat deposits during the non-breeding season and then expend the stored energy during an intensive lactation period. Fluctuations in energy acquisition prior to breeding are expressed as variations in maternal mass and condition at parturition. Failure to locate sufficient food prior to parturition will result in poor reproductive success. The link between variations in energy aquisition (affected by environmental conditions) and maternal condition on lactating behaviour, pup condition and survivorship was examined by monitoring the Weddell seal colony at Hutton Cliffs, Erebus Bay during the breeding season. Females and their pups were captured post partum, during mid-lactation and at the end of the lactation period and weighed. Deuterium and tritium dilution techniques as well as ultrasonic techniques were used to assess the condition (total amount of fat possessed) of females to determine the relative change in body composition (i.e. fat and protein) over time and the growth of the pup. The over winter diet of the females was determined by taking a blubber sample and analysing it for fatty acid composition, lipid use and transfer during lactation. Fresh scat samples were also collected from around the colony for the entire field season and prey remains were identified. Because identification is sometimes difficult, a DNA based method was used to identify species of prey remains. Blood and milk samples were also collected at the beginning, mid and end of lactation and examined to determine the ontogeny of disease resistance in pups.
Purpose:: Not Available
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Proffitt, K.M. Garrott, R.A. Rotella, J.J. Wheatley, K.E. Environmental and senescent related variations in Weddell seal body mass: implications for age-specific reproductive performance. Oikos 116: 1683-1690 doi: 10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.16139.x, 2007.
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Wheatley, K.E. Bradshaw, C.J.A. Harcourt, R.G. Davis, L.S. Hindell, M.A. Chemical immobilization of adult female Weddell seals with tiletamine and zolazepam: effects of age, condition and stage of lactation. BMC vetinary research 2(8): doi:10.1186/1746-6148/2/8, 2006.
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Wheatley, K.E. Bradshaw, C.J.A. Davis, L.S. Harcourt, R.G. Hindell, M.A. Influence of maternal mass and condition on energy transfer in Weddell seals. Journal of Animal Ecology 75: 724-733doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01093.x, 2006.
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Wheatley, K.E. Nichols, P.D. Hindell, M.A. Harcourt, R.G. Bradshaw, C.J.A. Temporal variation in the vertical stratification of blubber fatty acids alters diet predictions for lactating Weddell seals. Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 352: 103-113, 2007.
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Wheatley, K.R. Reproductive Strategies of Adult Female Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and Their Implications for Pup Survival. Ph.D., University of Tasmania Hobart: University of Tasmania.
Supplemental_Information:: REFERENCE: Wheatley, K.E. Bradshaw, C.J.A. Harcourt, R.G. Hindell, M.A. Feast or famine: evidence for mixed capital–income breeding strategies in Weddell seals. Oecologia 155: 11-20 DOI 10.1007/s00442-007-0888-7, 2008.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20021014
Ending_Date: 20021212

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20031021
Ending_Date: 20031213

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: 166.85
East_Bounding_Coordinate: 166.85
North_Bounding_Coordinate: -77.7333
South_Bounding_Coordinate: -77.7333

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD PLATFORM
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ANCILLARY KEYWORDS
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO TOPIC CATEGORY
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: DATA SET LANGUAGE
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CARNIVORES > SEALS/SEA LIONS/WALRUSES
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS > EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION
Theme_Keyword: FIELD SURVEYS
Theme_Keyword: GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS
Theme_Keyword: FIELD INVESTIGATION
Theme_Keyword: Body Fat
Theme_Keyword: Breeding Success
Theme_Keyword: BIOTA
Theme_Keyword: ENGLISH

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD
Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > HUTTON CLIFFS
Place_Keyword: GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Access_Constraints: Not Available

Use_Constraints:

Not Available

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: KATHERINE E WHEATLEY

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: LLOYD S DAVIS

Contact_Position: INVESTIGATOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit
Address: School of Zoology
Address: University of Tasmania
Address: Private Bag 5
City: Hobart
State_or_Province: Tasmania
Postal_Code: 7001
Country: Australia

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Zoology Department
Address: Center for Science Communication
Address: University of Otago
Address: PO BOX 56
City: Dunedin
Country: New Zealand

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +61 3 6226 2592

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 479 7654

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +61 3 6226 2745

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 479 7584

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kew@utas.edu.au

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: adelie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: Blood and milk samples still exist. Please contact the investigator directly for access to these samples. All other data is within the PhD thesis.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Not Available

Completeness_Report:

Not Available

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Not Available
Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NZ/NZAI/ANZ > Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Institute, New Zealand
Contact_Person: SHULAMIT GORDON

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Antarctica New Zealand
Address: Private Bag 4745
City: Christchurch
Country: New Zealand

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 358 0200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 358 0211

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: s.gordon@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Resource_Description: K063_2002_2004_NZ_1

Distribution_Liability:

Not Available

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Not Available

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:: http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Fees: Not Available

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20081013

Metadata_Review_Date: 20090209

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CEISHA POIROT

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: SHULAMIT GORDON

Contact_Position: DIF AUTHOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Antarctica New Zealand
Address: Private Bag 4745
City: Christchurch
Country: New Zealand

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Antarctica New Zealand
Address: Private Bag 4745
City: Christchurch
Country: New Zealand

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 358 0200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 358 0211

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: c.poirot@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: s.gordon@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time