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dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Robert
dc.contributor.authorVikingsson, Gisli A.
dc.contributor.authorGislason, Astthor
dc.contributor.authorLockyer, Christina
dc.contributor.authorNew, Leslie
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Len
dc.contributor.authorHammond, Philip Steven
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-22T11:01:02Z
dc.date.available2013-07-22T11:01:02Z
dc.date.issued2013-03
dc.identifier60122356
dc.identifier5b527301-4221-4bc8-8a8c-269289614ffe
dc.identifier84883254387
dc.identifier.citationWilliams , R , Vikingsson , G A , Gislason , A , Lockyer , C , New , L , Thomas , L & Hammond , P S 2013 , ' Evidence for density-dependent changes in body condition and pregnancy rate of North Atlantic fin whales over four decades of varying environmental conditions ' , ICES Journal of Marine Science . https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fst059en
dc.identifier.issn1054-3139
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-2381-8302/work/47531607
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-7436-067X/work/29591693
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/3854
dc.description.abstractA central theme in ecology is the search for pattern in the response of a species to changing environmental conditions. Natural resource management and endangered species conservation require an understanding of density-dependent and density-independent factors that regulate populations. Marine mammal populations are expected to express density dependence in the same way as terrestrial mammals, but logistical difficulties in data acquisition for many large whale species have hindered attempts to identify population-regulation mechanisms. We explored relationships between body condition (inferred from patterns in blubber thickness) and per capita prey abundance, and between pregnancy rate and body condition in North Atlantic fin whales as environmental conditions and population size varied between 1967 and 2010. Blubber thickness in both males and females declined at low per capita prey availability, and in breeding-age females, pregnancy rate declined at low blubber thickness, demonstrating a density-dependent response of pregnancy to prey limitation mediated through body condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a quantitative relationship among per capita prey abundance, body condition, and pregnancy rate has been documented for whales. As long-lived predators, marine mammals can act as indicators of the state of marine ecosystems. Improving our understanding of the relationships that link prey, body condition, and population parameters such as pregnancy rate and survival will become increasingly useful as these systems are affected by natural and anthropogenic change. Quantifying linkages among prey, fitness and vital rates will improve our ability to predict population consequences of subtle, sublethal impacts of ocean noise and other anthropogenic stressors.
dc.format.extent2219139
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofICES Journal of Marine Scienceen
dc.subjectCetaceanen
dc.subjectDemographyen
dc.subjectDensity dependenceen
dc.subjectEnergeticsen
dc.subjectFecundityen
dc.subjectMarine mammalen
dc.subjectQH301 Biologyen
dc.subjectSDG 14 - Life Below Wateren
dc.subjectSDG 15 - Life on Landen
dc.subject.lccQH301en
dc.titleEvidence for density-dependent changes in body condition and pregnancy rate of North Atlantic fin whales over four decades of varying environmental conditionsen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. School of Biologyen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Instituteen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Statisticsen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotlanden
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modellingen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Sea Mammal Research Uniten
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/icesjms/fst059
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden


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