Reproductive performance of a tropical apex predator in an unpredictable habitat

摘要: Variation in life history traits is directly linked to individual fitness. This interplay complicated by environmental perturbations an unpredictable habitat. To maximise fitness, individuals react changes reallocating resources between maintenance, growth and reproduction. Disentangling these factors as are interlinked trade-offs current reproduction future survival study provides first estimates of a tropical apex predator, the Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki), habitat, archipelago. Thirteen years data on birth mass, early offspring, allowed examination influencing reproductive performance adult females calculation pupping rates. Females became primiparous ages 4 9. Neither oceanographic nor body condition females’ year influenced age at primiparity. Age primiparity had no effect female’s rate, average one pup every 2 years. Sex did not influence subsequent inter-birth interval, but first-year lengthened it. Until 6, showed lower rate (< 0.40). Fecundity was higher 6 14 (birth 0.40–0.48). We could detect inter-annually differing conditions Female lions appear deal with variation early-life unpredictability low stable output modified only trade-off Life have been examined many species temperate regions seasonal predictable habitats. However, they rarely investigated long-lived habitats, where traits, fitness population demography may be more complex. Our long-term dataset for females, shows that figures prominently their history. produce low, largely unaffected independent unpredictability.