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Vertebrate > Lecture 16 > Flashcards

Lecture 16 Flashcards

1
Q

How often do female humpbacks reproduce?

A

Every 2-4 years

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2
Q

Humpback females lactate for about a year and do all the parental care. So what does this mean?

A

Means the female is with the calf for a considerable amount of time which makes up a group as well

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3
Q

Describe the reproductive social behaviour in Humpback whales

A

Humpback (and right) whales have low latitude winter breeding grounds and there are small groups of females and offspring. So, the female is with her young and the male escorts them and goes along with that group. But then during mating season itself you get competitive groups of males all trying to get access to the individual females. They use songs as a mating display. The humpback species is recovering, the population is possibly up to pre-hunting numbers, but they are very difficult to survey

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4
Q

What is the humpback group type and composition? Why is this?

A

Groups tend to be adults, but there are some juveniles and some calves that are the young of the year. A lot of the Humpbacks will go around in pairs. Humpback whales use bubble netting to catch fish- so work well as pairs

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5
Q

What are the three group types of killer whales?

A

. Resident
. Transient
. Pelagic

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6
Q

Describe the killer whale group type residents

A

Stay in one area the whole time and have specific calls and are single mature males. Mature males remain in pod but he will go off and try and mate with females from other pods. Mature males large dorsal fin (secondary sexual characteristic to attract females?- another example is the narwhal tusk)

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7
Q

What is the social behaviour in pilot whales/ groupings? Why is this advantageous (why do we think it is this way)?

A

Pilot whales- similar to killer whale- matrilineal pods- one male and many females, older post reproductive females which may be to car for young. Post reproductive females may know the best breeding/ foraging grounds because they are much older and have been to these grounds year after year. So they may pass on cultural information.

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8
Q

Explain the social structure of sperm whales

A

Females and immatures form units of 5-15 whales (similar to killer whales) found in lower latitudes. Males (age 4-5) leave units (leave to build up their size) and move to higher latitudes. Males twice the size of females (largest sexual dimorphism), later return and seek out estrus females to mate

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9
Q

Describe the social structure of bottlenose dolphins

A

‘Fission-fusion’ (split up and come back together- weak links) group structure, small groups of 2-10 animals with females and their offspring. If there are more than 2-10 then there is probably something occurring. Mature males form groups of pairs or triplets that are stable for years. Infanticide documented in some areas- males sometimes come and kill offspring- no reason, just very aggressive and don’t care for other cetacean being in their areas- lots of evidence

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10
Q

Describe the social structure of spinner dolphins

A

Large groups (100-1000), sub-groups of 12-15 animals within the large pod. Leaping and spinning- sexual display?, for orientation within the bigger group

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11
Q

Describe the social structure of Harbour porpoise

A

Small groups 1-3 animals, sexually mature at 3-4 (max age 15-17). Seasonal reproduction giving birth in early summer. Often have individuals specific to an area and don’t move much around areas around that. Most of the group is the female, male and the young of the year

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12
Q

Give examples of offshore living smaller odontocetes. What kind of groups do they live in?

A 
Pilot whales, spotted, spinner and bottlenose dolphins 
Large groups (100-1000)
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13
Q

What are the advantages of large groups compared to small groups?

A

. Protection against predators- dilution effect- less likely to be killed
. Easy to find mates
. Cooperative foraging- dolphins herding fish into shallow and eating them, but can only do that as a group (still have to compete with others in the group)

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14
Q

What are the disadvantages of being in a large group compared to a small group?

A

. Competition for prey
. Risk of inbreeding (if all breeding occur within the group)
. Risk of extirpation if subjected to large scale mortality event (e.g. human caused- pollution, hunt, fisheries bycatch, military sonar) or disease outbreak (e.g. virus)

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15
Q

How many species belong to the family Phocidae? Name them

A

18 species
. Monk seals -2 species (Mediterranean, Hawaiian)
. Antarctic seals- 4 species (Ross, leopard, crabeater, weddell)
. Elephant seals-2 species (northern and southern)
. Northern hemisphere seals-10 species (grey, Harbour, ringed, sported, Baikal, caspian, harp, ribbon, hooded and bearded)

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16
Q

How many species are in the family Otariidae? Name them

A

15 species
. Fur seals (South American, New Zealand, Galapagos, Antarctic, Juan Fernadex, South African, Australian, Guadalupe, subantartctic and northern) 10 species
. Sea lion (Steller, Australian, Southern, Hooker’s and California) 5 species

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17
Q

How many species are in the family Odobenidae?

A

1- the walrus

Shallow diver that feeds primarily on benthic invertebrates

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18
Q

The monk seals have separate evolution from the rest of the Phocidae and form a group on their own the ‘what’ genus?

A

The Monachus genus

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19
Q

Describe the Hawaiian monk seal: Monachus schauinslandi (size, weight, lifespan, how many are there, reasons why)

A

. Critically endangered and endemic to Hawaiian Islands
. 2m and 150-300kg (females larger)
. Live 25-30 years
. About 1000 animals remaining and still declining by about 4% per year
. Reasons for decline include: habitat loss, food limitation and fisheries bycatch

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20
Q

Describe the Mediterranean monk seal: Monachus monachus (size, lifespan, how many, explain why)

A

. Large- 2.5m and 300kg
. Lifespan 20-25 years
. Most critically endangered monk seal with 350-450 left
. Decline due to human activities: previous hunt, food, habitat loss (linked to sea caves- where they prefer to live), disease and fisheries bycatch
(Interaction with tourists causing disturbance and is responsible for the decline)

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21
Q

Describe the Caribbean monk seal or West Indian monk seal: Monachus tropicalis, explain reasons

A

Declared extinct in 2008. Intensive exploitation for centuries, killed for their skins and oil. Fisheries bycatch

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22
Q

What is the Latin name for Crabeater seal?

A

Lobodon carcinophagus

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23
Q

Describe crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) (distribution, prey, predator, numbers/ population etc.)

A

Antarctic distribution, extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast
Most numerous mammals 7-12 million
Medium sized (2m)
Specialised feeding specifically on krill
Main predator is the leopard seal
Status: least concern
Don’t know a huge amount about the, but we are finding out more with new technology

24
Q

What is the Latin name for leopard seal?

A

Hydrurga leptonyx

25
Q

Describe Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) (adaption, size, population, lifespan, predator)

A 
. Flip top head adaption- it’s jaw can open further than all other species which means they can eat onto larger prey because they open to 160 degrees 
. Females are larger- dimorphism 
. Lifespan 20-30 years 
. 300,000 animals 
. Orcas and sharks are their predator 
(. Status: least concern)
26
Q

How do you distinguish between harbour and grey seals?

A

Grey seals- oval head with a long acid from dorsal to central. Roman nose- as though it’s forehead does straight to the end of the nose- no demarcation, slight angled nostrils
Harbour seal- has brow before goes into nose, parallel nostrils, squashed head, smaller (but there is overlap)

27
Q

Give the Latin names for the Northern hemisphere grey seal

A

Halichoerus grypus

28
Q

Approximately what percent of grey seals breed in the UK?

A

45%

29
Q

Give the Latin name for the Northern hemisphere seals common seal/ harbour seal

A

Phoca vitulina

30
Q

How many sub species of harbour seal are there?

A

5

31
Q

Describe harbour seals (distribution, sub species, population)

A

. Extend through the Atlantic and Pacific (Northern hemisphere temperate- polar regions)
. Populations vary hugely (because they often crash)
. Small (males tend to be larger)
. Status: least concern
. 350,000- 500,000 animals

32
Q

Why does the population of harbour seals often crash? Why does this happen?

A

Major population crashes due to disease- phocidae distemper virus (morbillivirus) events- go to nearly extinction levels at some points. Don’t know where the virus stems from but honk the higher Artic seals which every so often come down to lower latitudes and infect population (however the population of harbour seals already extend up to the higher artic populations)

33
Q

When are most counts of harbour seals done?

A

During the most season because most animals will come ashore (use plane to count them)

34
Q

What percent of European harbour seals are found in the UK?

A

30-40%

35
Q

Give the Latin name for Galapagos fur seals

A

Arctocephalus galapagoensis

36
Q

Describe Galapagos fur seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) (size, behaviour, prey, status, population)

A

. Sexual dimorphism (males double the weight of females)
. Smallest of otariids and one of the smallest of all seals
. Spend more time out of the water than almost any other seal (70%)
. No evidence for migration or that they spend prolonged periods of time at sea
. Prey is small squids and a variety of fish
. Status: endangered
. 10,000- 15,000

37
Q

What event are Galapagos fur seals affected by? Why is this?

A

El Niño events Where the sea warms causing a decline in prey and therefore there is a lack of prey

38
Q

Give the Latin name for walrus

A

Odobenus rosemarus

39
Q

Describe walrus (distribution, size, lifespan, predators, status, population)

A

. Tusks: defence mechanism against predators and used to hauling out ice to pull themselves onto ice (with their tusks)
. Harem: 1 male and a harem of females- polygamous system
. Hold aquatic territories and wait until a female comes in the water and mate with them
. Artic and sub-Artic distribution
. Females smaller (in the Atlantic adults are slightly smaller
. Lifespan 40 years
. Predators: polar bears and killer whales
. Status: data deficient (difficult to model because transglobal and difficulties getting to some areas)
. 18,000-20,000

40
Q

Describe the hair of otariids

A

Fur seals (as do the sea otters and the polar bears) has two layers:
- outer protective guard hairs
. Inner soft underfur hairs
Phocid and walrus lack underfur and instead have blubber

41
Q

What type of fur are Phocid seal pups born with?

A

Lanugo (white)

42
Q

In which type of animals is the lanugo (baby fur) moulted in the uterus in? (In utero)

A

Hooded, harbour, and beaded seals

43
Q

Where do hooded, harbour and bearded seals give birth? What does this mean for the pups?

A

On the sand bars (areas that are very transient where water will flood it every ride. For this reason pups can swim as soon as they are born

44
Q

The in utero moult in hooded, harbour and bearded seals of the lanugo reflects a secondary adaptation to breeding in land. What is this adaption argued to by for?

A

Is argued that prenatal moulting, like prenatal blubber deposition, is an adaption that enables newborn pups to enter cold water without adverse consequences

45
Q

Why don’t seals live in warmer habitats? Give an example of a seal that has adapted

A

Possibly because they have fur and so overheating (limits distribution) could be the reason that their distribution is limited as fur is part of their insulation.
They think that the grey seal was an artic seal which has gradually adapted to warmer climates so that it can come down into temperate regions

46
Q

When does moulting take place in the Southern Hemisphere?

A

Summer and autumn (December to April or May)

47
Q

Are phocid seals or otariid seals better at thermoregulation and why?

A

Phocid seals are better especially on shore because they have blubber rather than fur

48
Q

The distribution of Pinnipeds toward the equator is limited by what?

A

Their inability to thermoregulate at elevated temperatures, especially during those periods when they are on land I.e. during parturition, nursing, and the post-weaning fast and for some species during the annual moult.
So the insulative layer of blubber or fur inhibit heat dissipation when out of water so they risk overheating

49
Q

When temperatures are Hugh what do fur seals, sea lions and seals do?

A

Enter the water or rest in tide pools are caves

50
Q

What are the advantages of delayed implantation in Pinnipeds?

A

. Need to find mates
. Substrate for giving birth
. Optimal time for pup survival

51
Q

What is the potential for population growth dependent on?

A

. How old the animals can live
. How many pups and calves they give birth to and how often it is that they do that (most breed every year and females tend to go back to almost exactly the same spot to give birth every year) (walrus every 2-4 years)
. When they become sexually mature (age)

52
Q

What is the number of offspring a female marine mammal produces determined by?

A

Her frequency of pregnancy (which is never more than once per year) and the duration of her reproductive lifetime

53
Q

What is the number of offspring the marine mammal, the polar bears females can produce determined by?

A

The frequency of pregnancy. The duration of her reproductive lifetime. The number of cube produced during each pregnancy which normally is reduced by age (all other marine mammals normally produce a single offspring per successful pregnancy)

54
Q

What is morphometrics used for?

A

To age populations and to look at comparisons between different groups and are if we have got different species

55
Q

How do we investigate population structure?

A

. Morphometrics
. Genetics- e.g. genetic markers: mtDNA and/ or microsatellites
. Ecological: stable isotopes, contaminants and parasites

56
Q

How do we use genetics to investigate population structure?

A

By using genetic markers: mtDNA and/ or microsatellites

57
Q

How do we use ecology to investigate population structure?

A

. Stable isotopes- tell us a lot about diets and therefore if populations are distinct because they are feeding on different prey
. Contaminants- can tell us a lot about where a marine animal has been because some of the contaminants are very specific rations of the oceans
. Parasites- tend to be very specific and have very specific populations that are related to there host

Vertebrate (20 decks)

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