New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Short communication
New Zealand sea lion predation on New Zealand fur seals
COREY J. A. BRADSHAW
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
CHRIS LALAS
P. O. Box 31, Portobello
Dunedin, New Zealand
SHAUN MCCONKEY
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Abstract Several sea lion species are known to occasionally
hunt fur seals for food, but there have been few reports of New Zealand
(Hooker's) sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) hunting and eating New
Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). We describe the first
reported incidence of P. hookeri eating A. forsteri pups
in mainland New Zealand, and present evidence suggesting that it was active
predation rather than scavenging. In late April, early May, and early September
1997 we found three sea lion regurgitations containing the remains of fur seal
pups on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. One contained three plastic tags formerly
placed on three different female fur seal pups from a nearby breeding colony.
When ingested at least two of the three identifiable pups fell within the lower
condition quartile calculated from pups at their natal colony. The incidence of
such predation may increase with increasing densities of both fur seals and sea
lions in Otago, but the impact on the trends in fur seal populations is, and
should remain, low.
Keywords Arctocephalus forsteri; behaviour;
Hooker's sea lion; New Zealand fur seal; New Zealand sea lion; otariid;
Phocarctos hookeri; predation; pup
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1998, Vol. 32:
101-104
0028-8330/98/3201-0101 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1998
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (314K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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