4.3 Article

Do changes in skull size of South American sea lions reflect changes in population density?

期刊

MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
卷 37, 期 3, 页码 934-948

出版社

WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/mms.12786

关键词

density dependence; geometric morphometric; Otaria byronia; skull size; South American sea lion

资金

  1. Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica [PICT 2015-2063]
  2. Explorers Club

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The study revealed a correlation between changes in population abundance and skull size and shape in the South American sea lion population in Patagonia over the past 100 years. The decrease in skull size in individuals postharvest may indicate a density-dependence response in somatic growth.
Populations of the South American sea lion (SASL, Otaria byronia) have been intensely exploited for leather and oil in different parts of its distribution range throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, generating large changes in abundance. In Patagonia, the SASL population was reduced by more than 90% of its original abundance, and it began to recover after sealing ended. The aim of this work was to assess changes in size and shape of the skull related to changes in population abundance during the last 100 years. Using geometric morphometry techniques, we analyzed 145 individuals (68 males and 77 females) from Patagonia. Skulls were classified by sex, time period (harvest vs. postharvest), and decades of individual's birth. Results indicated that there were differences in skull size but not in shape discriminated by time period. Moreover, individuals of the postharvest period showed a decrease in the skull size during the last two decades, coinciding with the recovery in population abundance. Our results suggest the existence of a density-dependence response in somatic growth of SASL population of Patagonia.

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