Sexual Behavior of Male Northern Elephant Seals: I. Lethal Injuries To Adult Females

摘要: [Adult female mortality of northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, was monitored daily throughout the breeding season and weekly during non-breeding at Ano Nuevo, California, period 1968 to 1987. Behavioral observation necropsy findings were collected circumstantial evidence compiled determine cause death. Female deaths on rookery rare; only 17 recorded over 20 year period. Cause death could not be estimated in three cases because advanced decomposition, one died from an accident, two others had no apparent trauma. The majority (11) caused by traumatic injuries inflicted males mating attempts as females departed harems for sea end lactation. Mortalities distributed across a broad age range. Based observed incidence relation present rookery, probability being killed male is about thousand. Females are expected evolve adaptations reduce injurious encounters with males. injured variety species. A hypothesis concerning conditions under which animals sustain potentially lethal advanced., Adult advanced.]