Behavior and Ecology of the Northern Fur Seal

Covering the behavior and ecology of the northern fur seal, this book is a model long-term study of marine mammals, one that tests theory through both observation of undisturbed behavior and manipulative experiments on individuals. Here Roger Gentry draws on nearly two decades of research on three different islands to show how behavior among these seals changes with population size, sex ratio, and environment, to explain the behavior of the population beginning with individuals, and to generalize the results to other members of the eared seal family. In so doing, he offers one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind on any marine mammal species to date.

Gentry shows that the species is driven by very different behavioral traits than have been assumed for it in the past. His book analyzes behavior on scales of hours to lifetimes, investigates the mating system, considers processes that underlie the mating system (site fidelity, behavioral estrus, and the development of territoriality), and addresses specific aspects of maternal strategy (female attendance behavior, pup growth, seasonal influences, and the effects of continental shelf width). Gentry contributes to knowledge about marine mammals by providing a very specific basis for interspecies comparisons, and he suggests a link between population trend and environmental regime shifts. He also guides the debate over seal mating systems from an interpretive to an empirical or experimental basis.

Originally published in 1997.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

List of contents

Preface Acknowledgments List of Contributors Pt. 1. Behavior at the Population Level Ch. 1. Introduction Ch. 2. Population Changes, 1974 to 1986 Ch. 3. Temporal Factors in Behavior Pt. 2. The Mating System Ch. 4. Behavior of Adult Males Ch. 5. Male-Female Associations Ch. 6. Behavior of Adult Females Pt. 3. Processes Fundamental to the Mating System Ch. 7. Site Fidelity and Philopatry Ch. 8. Estrus and Estrous Behavior By Roger L. Gentry, John R. Holt, Carolyn B. Heath Ch. 9. Ontogeny of Male Territorial Behavior Pt. 4. The Maternal Strategy Ch. 10. Female Attendance Behavior Ch. 11. Neonatal Growth and Behavior By Roger L. Gentry, Michael E. Goebel, John Calambokidis Ch. 12. Female Foraging Behavior: Inter- and Intra-Annual Variation in Individuals By Roger L. Gentry, Michael E. Goebel Ch. 13. Female Foraging Behavior: Effects of Continental Shelf Width By Roger L. Gentry, Mark O. Pierson, Valery A. Vladimirov Pt. 5. Summary, Comparisons, and Conclusions Ch. 14. Synthesis Ch. 15. Implications for Otariid Studies Appendix. Scientific and Common Names of Species Referred to in This Work Notes Literature Cited Author Index Subject Index

About the author

Roger L. Gentry

Summary

Covering the behavior and ecology of the northern fur seal, this book is a model long-term study of marine mammals, one that tests theory through both observation of undisturbed behavior and manipulative experiments on individuals. Here Roger Gentry draws on nearly two decades of research on three different islands to show how behavior among these seals changes with population size, sex ratio, and environment, to explain the behavior of the population beginning with individuals, and to generalize the results to other members of the eared seal family. In so doing, he offers one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind on any marine mammal species to date.

Gentry shows that the species is driven by very different behavioral traits than have been assumed for it in the past. His book analyzes behavior on scales of hours to lifetimes, investigates the mating system, considers processes that underlie the mating system (site fidelity, behavioral estrus, and the development of territoriality), and addresses specific aspects of maternal strategy (female attendance behavior, pup growth, seasonal influences, and the effects of continental shelf width). Gentry contributes to knowledge about marine mammals by providing a very specific basis for interspecies comparisons, and he suggests a link between population trend and environmental regime shifts. He also guides the debate over seal mating systems from an interpretive to an empirical or experimental basis.

Originally published in 1997.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Additional text

"This book is a major scientific contribution to the fields of pinniped and behavioral ecology. . . . The book is very readable, yet it contains an enormous amount of detailed information. . . . [I]t should be on the list of any well-rounded biological scientist."

Product details

• Authors: Roger Gentry, Roger L. Gentry, Gentry Roger L.
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 14.07.2014
• EAN: 9780691602028
• ISBN: 978-0-691-60202-8
• No. of pages: 410
• Series: Princeton Legacy Library; Princeton Legacy Library
• Subjects: Guides > Nature; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > General, dictionaries; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology, Biology, life sciences, Ecological science, the Biosphere, Marine Biology, Zoology: Mammals