Variation in pup vocalisations and mother‐pup behaviour between harp seal whelping patches: effects of climate or geography

摘要: Harp seals breed in pack‐ice, a substrate which can vary substantially between whelping patches depending on differing environmental and oceanographic conditions. This study demonstrates clear site differences pup vocalizations mother behaviour Northeast (Greenland Sea) Northwest (Canadian Front) Atlantic harp seal populations. Classification trees showed distinctive split Front Greenland Sea vocalisations. No sex differentiation was present for pups at the Front; 42% (n = 12) of male 38% 13) female calls could be attributed to given individual. In Sea, 55% 42) vocalisations were individuals compared with only 8% males 47). addition behavioural observations pairs conducted (Front, n 58; 78). found nurse more, more alert than pups. Female attendance patterns also differed sites: females ...