Sex-specific diet differences in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) via spatial assortment.

ABSTRACT: The lack of recovery of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Pacific Northwest has been blamed in part on predation by pinnipeds, particularly the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Previous work at a limited number of locations has shown that male seal diet contains more salmon than that of female seals and that sex ratios at haul-out sites differ spatiotemporally. This intrapopulation variation in predation may result in greater effects on salmon than suggested by models assuming equal spatial distribution and diet proportion. To address the generality of these patterns, we examined the sex ratios and diet of male and female harbor seals from 13 haul-out sites in the inland waters of Washington State and the province of British Columbia during 2012-2018. DNA metabarc

SUBMITTER: Conwell HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11222013 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature