An evaluation of hot-iron branding as a permanent marking method for adult New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri
I. S. Wilkinson A B , B. L. Chilvers A F , P. J. Duignan C D and P. A. Pistorius E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Conservation, Research and Development Group, P.O. Box 10420, Wellington 6143, New Zealand.
B Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Locked Bag 914, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
C New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
D Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
E Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
F Corresponding author. Email: lchilvers@doc.govt.nz
Wildlife Research 38(1) 51-60 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR10077
Submitted: 7 May 2010 Accepted: 12 January 2011 Published: 15 March 2011
Abstract
Context: Studies of the population and behavioural ecology of pinnipeds require the ability to identify individuals over periods ranging from a single season to an entire lifetime.
Aims: The aims of this research were to examine the efficacy of hot-iron branding as a permanent marking technique including the legibility of marks over time and comparing estimates of survival for animals marked with brands versus flipper tags.
Methods: Adult female New Zealand sea lions (n = 135) aged between 4 and 24 years of age were hot-iron branded with four-digit numbers during the austral summer of 2000.
Key results: Ten years on, 100% of animals still alive could be identified from these brands. Over the 10-year research period, it was observed that the skin of fully healed individual brands could, on occasion, become lacerated due to injuries received from shark bites and/or bites from other sea lions, removing or temporarily reducing the legibility of single characters of some brands. However, these animals were still identifiable when all digits were considered – and scars could become an identifying mark in their own right.
Key conclusions: Survival estimates derived from branded versus tagged-only individuals were similar, although the variance associated with tagged-only survival estimates was higher, giving less robust estimates. This is likely a result of higher resight probabilities observed for branded individuals. Resighting of tags requires a close approach with a high associated level of disturbance to both the marked animal and those associated with it, especially when considered over the lifetime of the animal, while brands can be read from a considerable distance with little or no disturbance.
Implications: Thus, hot-iron branding can be an effective method for permanently identifying sea lions that provides robust parameter estimates, causes low disturbance in the resighting process, and does not compromise survival.
References
Anderson, D. R., and Burnham, K. P. (1999). General strategies for the analysis of ringing data. Bird Study 46, 261–270.| General strategies for the analysis of ringing data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., and White, G. C. (1994). AIC model selection in overdispersed capture–recapture data. Ecology 75, 1780–1793.
| AIC model selection in overdispersed capture–recapture data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aurioles, D., Sinsel, F., and Alvarado, E. (1988). Mortality of California sea lion pups in Los Islotes, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 69, 180–183.
| Mortality of California sea lion pups in Los Islotes, Baja California Sur, Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker, C. S., Chilvers, B. L., Constantine, R., DuFresne, S., Mattlin, R., van Helden, A., and Hitchmough, R. (2010). Conservation status of New Zealand marine mammals (suborders Cetacea and Pinnipedia), 2009. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44, 101–115.
| Conservation status of New Zealand marine mammals (suborders Cetacea and Pinnipedia), 2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beauplet, G., Barbraud, C., Chambellant, M., and Guinet, C. (2005). Interannual variation in the post-weaning and juvenile survival of subantarctic fur seals: influence of pup sex, growth and oceanographic conditions. Journal of Animal Ecology 74, 1160–1172.
| Interannual variation in the post-weaning and juvenile survival of subantarctic fur seals: influence of pup sex, growth and oceanographic conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boyd, I. L., Croxall, J. P., Lunn, N. J., and Reid, K. (1995). Population demography of Antarctic fur seals: the costs of reproduction and implications for life histories. Journal of Animal Ecology 64, 505–518.
| Population demography of Antarctic fur seals: the costs of reproduction and implications for life histories.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boyd, I. L., McCafferty, D. J., and Walker, T. R. (1997). Variation in foraging effort by lactating Antarctic fur seals: response to simulated increased foraging costs. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40, 135–144.
| Variation in foraging effort by lactating Antarctic fur seals: response to simulated increased foraging costs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bradshaw, C. J. A., Barker, R. J., and Davis, L. S. (2000). Modeling tag loss in New Zealand fur seal pups. Journal of Agricultural Biological & Environmental Statistics 5, 475–485.
| Modeling tag loss in New Zealand fur seal pups.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bradshaw, C. J. A., Barker, R. J., Harcourt, R. G., and Davis, L. S. (2003). Estimating survival and capture probability of fur seal pups using multi-state mark–recapture models. Journal of Mammalogy 84, 65–80.
| Estimating survival and capture probability of fur seal pups using multi-state mark–recapture models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burnham, K. P., Anderson, D. R., White, G. C., Brownie, C., and Pollock, K. H. (1987). Design and analysis methods for fish survival experiments based on release–recapture. American Fisheries Society Monograph , .
Cameron, M. F., and Siniff, D. B. (2004). Age-specific survival, abundance, and immigration rates of a Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) population in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Canadian Journal of Zoology 82, 601–615.
| Age-specific survival, abundance, and immigration rates of a Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) population in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carothers, A. D. (1979). Quantifying unequal catchability and its effect on survival estimates in an actual population. Journal of Animal Ecology 48, 863–869.
| Quantifying unequal catchability and its effect on survival estimates in an actual population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carrick, R., and Ingham, S. E. (1960). Ecological studies of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina (L.), at Macquarie Island and at Heard Island. Mammalia 24, 325–342.
Carrick, R., and Ingham, S. E. (1962). Studies on the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L.). V. Population dynamics and utilisation. Wildlife Research 7, 198–206.
Carrick, R., Csordas, S. E., Ingham, S. E., and Keith, K. (1962). Studies on the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L.) III. The annual cycle in relation to age and sex. Wildlife Research 7, 119–160.
Childerhouse, S., Dix, B., and Gales, N. J. (2001). Diet of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) at the Auckland Islands. Wildlife Research 28, 291–298.
| Diet of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) at the Auckland Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Childerhouse, S., Dickie, G., and Hessel, G. (2004). Ageing live New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) using the first post-canine tooth. Wildlife Research 31, 177–181.
| Ageing live New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) using the first post-canine tooth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L. (2008a). Foraging site fidelity of lactating New Zealand sea lions. Journal of Zoology 276, 28–36.
| Foraging site fidelity of lactating New Zealand sea lions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L. (2008b). New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) and squid trawl fisheries: bycatch problems and management options. Endangered Species Research 5, 193–204.
| New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) and squid trawl fisheries: bycatch problems and management options.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L. (2009). Foraging locations of a decreasing colony of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri). New Zealand Journal of Ecology 33, 106–113.
Chilvers, B. L., and McKenzie, D. (2010). Age and sex specific survival estimates incorporating tag loss for New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri. Journal of Mammalogy 91, 758–767.
| Age and sex specific survival estimates incorporating tag loss for New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L., and Wilkinson, I. S. (2008). Philopatry and site fidelity of New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri. Wildlife Research 35, 463–470.
| Philopatry and site fidelity of New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L., and Wilkinson, I. S. (2009). Diverse foraging strategies in lactating New Zealand sea lions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 378, 299–308.
| Diverse foraging strategies in lactating New Zealand sea lions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L., Robertson, B. C., Wilkinson, I. S., Duignan, P. J., and Gemmell, N. J. (2005a). Male harassment of female New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri: mortality, injury, and harassment avoidance. Canadian Journal of Zoology 83, 642–648.
| Male harassment of female New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri: mortality, injury, and harassment avoidance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L., Wilkinson, I. S., Duignan, P. J., and Gemmell, N. J. (2005b). Summer foraging areas for lactating New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri. Marine Ecology Progress Series 304, 235–247.
| Summer foraging areas for lactating New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chilvers, B. L., Wilkinson, I. S., Duignan, P. J., and Gemmell, N. (2006). Diving to extremes: are New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) pushing their limits in a marginal habitat? Journal of Zoology 269, 233–240.
Chilvers, B. L., Wilkinson, I. S., and Childerhouse, S. (2007). New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri, pup production – 1995 to 2005. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 205–213.
| New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri, pup production – 1995 to 2005.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chittleborough, R. G., and Ealey, E. H. M. (1951). ‘Seal Marking at Heard Island, 1949.’ ANARE Interim Report 1. (Ed. P. G. Law.) (Department of External Affairs, Antarctic Division: Melbourne.)
Daoust, P.-Y., Fowler, G. M., and Stobo, W. T. (2006). Comparison of the healing process in hot and cold brands applied to harbour seal pups (Phoca vitulina). Wildlife Research 33, 361–372.
| Comparison of the healing process in hot and cold brands applied to harbour seal pups (Phoca vitulina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eberhardt, L. L., Chapman, D. G., and Gilbert, J. R. (1979). A review of marine mammal census methods. Wildlife Monographs 63, 1–46.
Erickson, A. W., Bester, M., and Laws, R. M. (1993). Marking techniques. In ‘Antarctic Seals: Research Methods and Techniques’. (Ed. R. M. Laws.) pp. 89–115. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)
Gales, N. J. (1995). ‘New Zealand (Hooker’s) Sea Lion Recovery Plan.’ Threatened species recovery plan series 17. (Department of Conservation: Wellington.)
Gales, N. (2001). ‘A Field Review of the Macquarie Island Elephant Seal Hot Branding Programme.’ pp. 1–27. (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth.)
Gales, N. J., and Mattlin, R. H. (1998). Fast, safe, field-portable gas anaesthesia for pinnipeds. Marine Mammal Science 14, 355–361.
| Fast, safe, field-portable gas anaesthesia for pinnipeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gauthier-Clerc, M., Gendner, J.-P., Ribic, C. A., Fraser, W. R., Woehler, E. J., Descamps, S., Gilly, C., Le Bohec, C., and Le Maho, Y. (2004). Long-term effects of flipper bands on penguins. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B (Supplement). Biology Letters , .
Geschke, K., and Chilvers, B. L. (2009). Managing big boys: a case study on remote anaesthesia and satellite tracking of adult male New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri). Wildlife Research 36, 666–674.
| Managing big boys: a case study on remote anaesthesia and satellite tracking of adult male New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hindell, M. A., Lea, M. A., and Hull, C. L. (1996). The effects of flipper bands on adult survival rate and reproduction in the royal penguin, Eudyptes schlegeli. The Ibis 138, 557–560.
| The effects of flipper bands on adult survival rate and reproduction in the royal penguin, Eudyptes schlegeli.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoek, W. (1979). Methods and techniques for long-term marking of pinnipeds. In ‘Report on the Pinnipeds and Sea Otter Tagging Workshop, 18–19 January 1979, National Marine Mammal Laboratory’. (Eds L. Hobbs and P. Russell.) pp. 35–38. (National Marine Mammal Laboratory: NE Seattle, WA.)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (2008). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008. Available at www.iucnredlist.org [accessed 23 October 2008].
Jabour Green, J., and Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2004). The ‘capacity to reason’ in conservation biology and policy: the southern elephant seal branding controversy. Journal for Nature Conservation 12, 25–39.
| The ‘capacity to reason’ in conservation biology and policy: the southern elephant seal branding controversy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, S., and Wilson, R. P. (2002). The potential costs of flipper-bands to penguins. Functional Ecology 16, 141–148.
| The potential costs of flipper-bands to penguins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lebreton, J., Burnham, K. P., Clobert, J., and Anderson, D. R. (1992). Modelling survival and testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case studies. Ecological Monographs 62, 67–118.
| Modelling survival and testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lebreton, J., Pradel, R., and Clobert, J. (1993). The statistical analysis of survival in animal populations. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8, 91–95.
| The statistical analysis of survival in animal populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M7itVyntA%3D%3D&md5=b5deab32b781e12d51996c05e65d64ebCAS |
Lindsey, A. A. (1937). The Weddell seal in the Bay of Whales, Antarctica. Journal of Mammalogy 18, 127–144.
| The Weddell seal in the Bay of Whales, Antarctica.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ling, J. K. (1965). Hair growth and moulting in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (Linn.). In ‘Biology of the Skin and Hair Growth’. (Eds A. G. Lyne and B. F. Short.) pp. 524–544. (Angus and Robertson: Sydney.)
Loison, A., Gaillard, J. M., and Houssin, H. (1994). New insight on survivorship of female chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) from observation of marked animals. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72, 591–597.
| New insight on survivorship of female chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) from observation of marked animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGilvray, G. (2000). Seal uproar: big questions arise. Australian Veterinary Journal 78, 299.
| Seal uproar: big questions arise.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McMahon, C. R., Burton, H. R., van den Hoff, J., Woods, R., and Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2006). Assessing hot-iron and cryo-branding for permanently marking southern elephant seals. The Journal of Wildlife Management 70, 1484–1489.
| Assessing hot-iron and cryo-branding for permanently marking southern elephant seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Merrick, R. L., Loughlin, T. R., and Calkins, D. G. (1996). Hot branding: a technique for long-term marking of pinnipeds. US Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-68.
Pistorius, P. A., Bester, M. N., Kirkman, S. P., and Boveng, P. L. (2000). Evaluation of age- and sex-dependent rates of tag loss in southern elephant seals. The Journal of Wildlife Management 64, 373–380.
| Evaluation of age- and sex-dependent rates of tag loss in southern elephant seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reiter, J., Panken, K. J., and Le Boeuf, B. J. (1981). Female competition and reproductive success in northern elephant seals. Animal Behaviour 29, 670–687.
| Female competition and reproductive success in northern elephant seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scheffer, V. B. (1950). ‘Experiments in the Marking of Seals and Sea Lions.’ US Fisheries and Wildlife Service Special Scientific Reports No. 4. pp. 1–33. (US Fisheries and Wildlife Service: Washington.)
Thompson, F. N., and Abraham, E. R. (2009). Estimation of the capture of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) in trawl fisheries, from 1995–96 to 2007–08. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report. Available at http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Doc/22073/AEBR_41.pdf.ashx [verified 3 February 2011].
van den Hoff, J., Sumner, M. D., Field, I. C., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Burton, H. R., and McMahon, C. R. (2004). Temporal changes in the quality of hot-iron brands on elephant seal (Mirounga leonina L.) pups. Wildlife Research 31, 619–629.
| Temporal changes in the quality of hot-iron brands on elephant seal (Mirounga leonina L.) pups.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warneke, R. M. (1979). Marking of Australian fur seals. In ‘Report on the Pinnipeds and Sea Otter Tagging Workshop, 18–19 January 1979, National Marine Mammal Laboratory’. (Eds L. Hobbs and P. Russell.) pp. 7–8. (National Marine Mammal Laboratory: NE Seattle, WA.)
White, G. C., and Burnham, K. P. (1999). Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals. Bird Study 46, 120–139.
| Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilkinson, I. S., and Bester, M. N. (1997). Tag loss in southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Marion Island. Antarctic Science 9, 162–167.
| Tag loss in southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Marion Island.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilkinson, I. S., Burgess, J., and Cawthorn, M. W. (2003). New Zealand sea lions and squid – managing fisheries impacts on a threatened marine mammal. In ‘Marine Mammals: Fisheries, Tourism and Management Issues’. (Eds N. Gales, M. Hindell and R. Kirkwood.) pp. 192–207. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
