Age-specific cost of first reproduction in female southern elephant seals

摘要: When to commence breeding is a crucial life-history decision that may be the most important determinant of an individual's lifetime reproductive output and can have major consequences on population dynamics. The age at which individuals first reproduce factor influencing intensity potential costs (e.g. reduced survival) involved in event. However, quantifying age-related variation cost reproduction wild animals remains challenging because difficulty reliably recording Here, using multi-event capture–recapture model accounts for both imperfect detection uncertainty status 18-year dataset involving 6637 individuals, we estimated state-specific survival female elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) declining Macquarie Island population. We detected clear survival. This was higher younger first-time breeders older compared with females recruiting four, overall mean reproduction. Neither earlier primiparity nor delaying appear confer any evolutionary advantage, rather optimal strategy seems start single age, 4 years.