Harassment during arrival on land and departure to sea in southern elephant seals

摘要: During the breeding season female elephant seals spent most of their time on land inside harems. When they arrive before joining harems, and when leave harems to return sea, are exposed secondary males may suffer intense harassment. Hence, arrival departure present an ideal opportunity test hypotheses concerning tactics harassment reduction. We studied during in two southern seal populations at Punta Delgada (Valdes Peninsula; DEL hereafter) Sea Lion Island (Falkland Islands; SLI hereafter). Females were less likely be intercepted by than departure. They also arrived mostly high tide, thereby reducing distance from water Interception rate higher DEL, where male density sex ratio affected likelihood interception; SLI, socionomy had a small effect. Harassment was low tide but not...