Proportional Weekly Use of Underwater Call Types by Weddell Seals, Leptonychotes Weddellii (Pinnipedia: Phocidae), During the Breeding Season at the Vestfold Hills

Abstract

Underwater vocalisations by Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, were recorded during the 1992 breeding season, at the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica. Only 3 of the 12 major call types recorded at all sites had statistically significant variations in utilisation throughout the season. No consistent trends were evident. The underwater calls of Weddell seals increased;in number during the breeding season, hut the proportional weekly usage of each of the major call types did not change. The absence of vocalisation changes suggests that the breeding behaviours of Weddell seals are not synchronous and that the underwater behavioural patterns either do not change during the breeding season or could not be detected because of the asynchrony.