Patrones de salida a tierra de machos no reproductores de lobo fino antártico (Arctocephalus gazella) en la Isla Laurie, Orcadas del Sur

CARLINI A.; DANERI G.; CASAUX R.; MARQUEZ M.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; XX Jornadas Argentinas de Mastozoología,; 2005

The seasonal haul-out pattern of itinerant male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalusgazella) was determined by regular counts at Mossman Peninsula,Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands, from 1996 to 2005. Smallnumbers of animals began to arrive at the beach in late December / earlyJanuary (mean date 28 December ± 15 days, n = 10). Peak numbers of animalsashore changed considerably between seasons. In 1996, 1998 and2001, peak numbers were registered in March (6/3, 18/3 and 6/3, respectively).Numbers peaked in 1997, 1999 and 2005 at the end of January / beginningof February (26/1, 2/2 and 28/1, respectively). In 2000, 2002, 2003and 2004 peaks were registered in the third week of February (15/2, 22/2,14/2 and 20/2, respectively). Peaks in numbers of seals ashore also variedbetween years, being minimum during 2001 (2531 individuals) and maximumduring 2006 (16 610 individuals). In March 1998 the coasts of LaurieIsland were surveyed by navigating inflatable boats near the shoreline; 18haul-out places were identified. The big differences in peak numbers, aswell as in the dates of peak events among years, suggest that local conditionscould have an effect on the numbers of animals hauled out in a givenyear. It may therefore be difficult to predict trends from summer censusesin non-breeding places.A.