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Predicting Life-History Traits for Female New Zealand Sea Lions, Phocarctos hookeri: Integrating Short-Term Mark-Recapture Data and Population Modeling

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Abstract

The trade-off between survival and reproduction by individuals is central to understanding life-history parameters of a species. Few mammal species have life-history information from long-term research. Instead, demographic models are commonly utilized to investigate an individual’s life-history strategy, species dynamics, and population trends. This research investigates age-related survival and reproductive performance of adult female New Zealand (NZ) sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri), using multi-state mark-recapture data from known-age branded individuals over five years. The mark-recapture analysis was integrated with a population model to predict the lifetime reproductive output of female NZ sea lions. The integration of an analysis of short-term datasets with population modeling allows for the prediction of life-history parameters of long lived animals when long-term information is not available. While such approaches involve some caveats, it provides a framework for investigating population dynamics and is preferential to unsubstantiated assumptions. This technique can lead to better design and implementation of conservation management for long lived species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Conservation Group, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10-420, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand

    B. Louise Chilvers & Ian S. Wilkinson

  2. Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 914, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia

    Ian S. Wilkinson

  3. Proteus Wildlife Research Consultants, P.O. Box 5193, Dunedin, 9058, New Zealand

    Darryl I. Mackenzie

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  1. B. Louise Chilvers
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  2. Ian S. Wilkinson
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  3. Darryl I. Mackenzie
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Correspondence to B. Louise Chilvers.

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Chilvers, B.L., Wilkinson, I.S. & Mackenzie, D.I. Predicting Life-History Traits for Female New Zealand Sea Lions, Phocarctos hookeri: Integrating Short-Term Mark-Recapture Data and Population Modeling. JABES 15, 259–278 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13253-009-0011-0

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