Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > ZO > ZO09024
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(6)

Alternative mating tactics in the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): when non-territorial males are successful too

A. K. Caudron A B F , S. S. Negro B , M. Fowler C , L. Boren B , P. Poncin A , B. C. Robertson B D and N. J. Gemmell B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Behavioural Biology Unit, Zoology Institute, University of Liège, 22 Quai Van Beneden, 4020 Liège, Belgium.

B Molecular Ecology Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand.

C Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA.

D Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

E Centre for Reproduction and Genomics, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

F Corresponding author. Email: a.caudron@gmail.com

Australian Journal of Zoology 57(6) 409-421 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09024
Submitted: 8 March 2009  Accepted: 26 November 2009   Published: 8 February 2010

Abstract

In polygynous mammals, the status of many males does not allow them to have a high social rank and theory predicts selection for alternative mating tactics. Alternative tactics were suggested to explain discrepancies between mating and paternity successes in several pinniped species. However, information on alternative tactics in fur seals is limited. Here, we focus on the polygynous New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri, predicting that competition for females is likely to cause a diversification of male mating tactics and that non-territorial tactics can yield reproductive success. We describe the behaviour of 38 males in a medium to large colony. Paternity success was assessed using CERVUS and PASOS, from a pool of 82 pups sampled at the study site and at neighbouring breeding areas. To see whether size is correlated with mating tactic, the length of 17 males was estimated using photogrammetry. Cluster analysis identified three male behavioural profiles: one corresponding to large territorial males and two illustrating alternative tactics employed by smaller non-territorial males. Of the 13 pups born at the study site that were assigned a father, eight were sired by three territorial males and five were sired by non-territorial males. Our study highlights that holding a territory is not a necessary condition for reproductive success in all otariids.

Additional keywords: alternative tactics, fur seals, male mating strategy, pinnipeds, reproductive success.


Acknowledgements

We thank all the people who helped us in the field. Chris Muller and Tanguy de Tillesse provided invaluable help with crossbow sampling, with the kind assistance of Cathy Debier. Nicole Smolensky helped with the behavioural observations. Fieldwork was based at the Edward Percival Field Station, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. In 2002 and 2003, AC worked as a FNRS Scientific Collaborator (Belgium). Fieldwork and genetics work were covered by the FNRS (Bref Séjour grant, Crédit aux Chercheurs # 1.5.120.04.F), the Fonds Léopold III (Belgium), the post-doc Duesberg Fund (University of Liège, Belgium), the University of Canterbury (UC Masters scholarship and the Molecular Ecology Laboratory) and a Minority International Research Traineeship (USA) and associated funding. Samples were collected under the permit Per/10/2002/01, DOC, New Zealand; all experimental work was approved by the University of Canterbury Animal Ethics Committee and complies with the current New Zealand laws. Dr Paul Sunnucks (Monash University), Dr Jon Slate (Sheffield) and two anonymous reviewers made useful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.


References

Aldenderfer M. S. , and Blashfield R. K. (1984). ‘Cluster Analysis.’ (Sage Publications Inc.: Beverly Hills, CA.)

Allen, P. J. , Amos, W. , Pomeroy, P. P. , and Twiss, S. D. (1995). Microsatellite variation in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) shows evidence of genetic differentiation between two British breeding colonies. Molecular Ecology 4, 653–662.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Andersson M. (1994). ‘Sexual Selection.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)

Arnould, J. P. Y. , and Duck, C. D. (1997). The cost and benefits of territorial tenure, and factors affecting mating success in male antarctic fur seals. Journal of Zoology 241, 649–664.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Baker W. H. (1960). ‘Element of Photogrammetry.’ (The Ronald Press Company: New York.)

Bartholomew G. A. (1953). Behavioral factors affecting social structure in the Alaska fur seal. In ‘Transactions of the 18th North American Wildlife Conference’. pp. 481–502.

Boness D. J. (1991). Determinants of mating systems in the Otariidae (Pinnipedia). In ‘Behaviour of Pinnipeds’. (Ed. D. Renouf.) pp. 1–44. (Chapman and Hall: London.)

Boness, D. J. , and James, H. (1979). Reproductive behaviour of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Journal of Zoology 188, 477–500.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Boren L. J. (2005). New Zealand fur seals in the Kaikoura region: colony dynamics, maternal investment and health. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Boren, L. J. , Muller, C. G. , and Gemmell, N. J. (2006). Colony growth and pup condition of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) on the Kaikoura coastline compared with other east coast colonies. Wildlife Research 33, 497–505.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Caro T. M. (1994). ‘Cheetahs of the Serengeti Plains: Group Living in an Asocial Species.’ (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL.)

Caudron, A. K. , Joiris, C. R. , and Ruwet, J.-C. (2001). Comparative activity budget among grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) breeding colonies – the importance of marginal populations. Mammalia 65, 373–382.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Clutton-Brock T. H. , and Pemberton J. R. (2004). ‘Soay Sheep: Dynamics and Selection in an Island Population.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Coltman, D. W. , Bowen, W. D. , and Wright, J. M. (1998). Male mating success in an aquatically mating pinniped, the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), assessed by microsatellite DNA markers. Molecular Ecology 7, 627–638.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Darwin C. R. (1871). ‘The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex.’ (Appleton: New York.)

Davis, C. S. , Gelatt, T. S. , Siniff, D. , and Strobeck, A. (2002). Dinucleotide microsatellite markers from the antarctic seals and their use in other pinnipeds. Molecular Ecology Notes 2, 203–208.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Dawkins R. (1980). Good strategy or evolutionary stable strategy? In ‘Sociobiology: Beyond Nature/Nurture?’ (Eds G. W. Barlow and J. Silverberg.) pp. 331–367. (Westview Press: Boulder, CO.)

Dowell, S. A. , Boren, L. J. , Negro, S. S. , Muller, C. J. , Caudron, A. K. , and Gemmell, N. J. (2008). Rearing two New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) pups to weaning. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 33–39.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Evett I. W. , and Weir B. S. (1998). ‘Interpreting DNA Evidence.’ (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)

Feh, C. (1999). Alliances and reproductive success in Camargue stallions, Equus caballus. Animal Behaviour 57, 705–713.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Fowler M. (2003). Spatial distribution of male New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, during the breeding season. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southampton College, Long Island University, New York.

Gemmell, N. J. , and Majluf, P. (1997). Projectile biopsy sampling of fur seals. Marine Mammal Science 13, 512–516.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Gentry R. L. , and Kooyman G. L. (1986). ‘Fur Seals. Maternal Strategies on Land and at Sea.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)

Goldsworthy, S. D. , Boness, D. J. , and Fleischer, R. C. (1999). Mate choice among sympatric fur seals: female preference for conphenotypic males. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 45, 253–267.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Kappe A. (1998). Detection of genetic variation: application of molecular techniques in conservation biology. Ph.D. Thesis, Groningen University, The Netherlands.

Kiyota, M. (2005). Site fidelity, territory acquisition and mating success in male northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). Mammal Study 30, 19–27.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Mattlin R. H. (1978). Population biology, thermoregulation and site preference of the New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson, 1828), on the Open Bay Islands, New Zealand. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Maynard Smith J. (1982). ‘Evolution and the Theory of Games.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

McCann, T. S. (1980). Territoriality and breeding behaviour of adult male antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus gazella. Journal of Zoology 192, 295–310.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Miller E. (1971). Social and thermoregulatory behaviour of the New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson, 1828). M.Sc. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Miller, E. H. (1974). Social behaviour between adult male and female New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson) during the breeding season. Australian Journal of Zoology 22, 155–173.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Oliveira R. F. , Taborsky M. , and Brockmann H. J. (2008). ‘Alternative Reproductive Tactics: an Integrative Approach.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Packer, C. , Gilbert, D. A. , Pusey, A. E. , and O’Brien, S. J. (1991). A molecular genetic analysis of kinship and cooperation in African lions. Nature 351, 562–565.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Rasa O. A. E. (1989). Helping in dwarf mongoose societies: an alternative reproductive strategy. In ‘The Sociobiology of Sexual and Reproductive Strategies’. (Eds O. A. E. Rasa and C. Vogel.) pp. 61–73. (Croom Helm: Beckenham.)

Raymond, M. , and Rousset, F. (1995). Genepop (Version 1.2) – population genetics software for exact tests of ecumenicism. The Journal of Heredity 86, 248–249.
Riedman M. (1990). ‘The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses.’ (University of California Press: Berkeley, CA.)

Robertson B. C. , and Gemmell N. J. (2005). Microsatellite DNA markers for the study of population structure in the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri). DOC Science Internal Series No. 196. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.

Ryan, C. J. , Hickling, G. J. , and Wilson, K. J. (1997). Breeding habitat preferences of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) on Banks Peninsula. Wildlife Research 24, 225–235.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Shuster S. M. , and Wade M. J. (2003). ‘Mating Systems and Strategies.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton & Oxford.)

Sokal R. R. , and Rohlf F. J. (1995). ‘Biometry.’ 3rd edn. (W.H. Freeman and Co.: New York.)

Soltis, J. , Mitsunaga, F. , Shimizu, K. , Nozaki, M. , Yanagihara, Y. , Domingo-Roura, X. , and Takenaka, O. (1997). Sexual selection in Japanese macaques. II: Female mate choice and male–male competition. Animal Behaviour 54, 737–746.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | StatSoft (2005). STATISTICA (data analysis software system) version 7.1. www.statsoft.fr .

Stirling, I. (1970). Observations on the behaviour of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri). Journal of Mammalogy 51, 766–778.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Trivers R. L. (1972). Parental investment and sexual selection. In ‘Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man’. (Ed. B. G. Campbell.) pp. 136–179. (Aldine-Atherton: Chicago, IL.)

Twiss, S. D. , Poland, V. F. , Graves, J. A. , and Pomeroy, P. P. (2006). Finding fathers: spatio-temporal analysis of paternity assignment in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Molecular Ecology 15, 1939–1953.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Wainstein M. D. (2000). Paternity in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.

Walsh, P. S. , Metzger, D. A. , and Higuchi, R. (1991). Chelex 100 as a medium for the simple extraction of DNA for PCR-based typing from forensic material. BioTechniques 10, 506–513.
| PubMed | Wishart D. (2006). ‘ClustanGraphics Primer. A Guide to Cluster Analysis.’ 4th edn. (Clustan Ltd: Edinburgh & St Andrews.)

Worthington Wilmer, J. , Allen, P. J. , Pomeroy, P. P. , Twiss, S. D. , and Amos, W. (1999). Where have all the fathers gone? An extensive microsatellite analysis of paternity in the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Molecular Ecology 8, 1417–1429.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |