Southern Elephant seals breeding at Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands.

CARLINI A.; POLJAK S.; CASAUX R,; DANERI G.; GASCO M.

POLISH POLAR RESEARCH

POLISH ACAD SCIENCES COMMITTEE POLAR RESEARCH

Año: 2003 vol. 24 p. 143 - 147

0138-0338

A population survey of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) was conducted at Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the 2001 breeding season. Two breesing sites were identified, one of which had not been previously reported. The largest breeding site was located at Duthoit Point, with a total of 128 females, 111 pups and 7 weanlings distributed in 6 harens along 3 km of coast. The new breeding group was observed at Harmony Point, where 3 females with their pups were found. This is the first report on southern elephant seal numbers during the breeding season period for the Nelson Island Coast.