Islands in the sea: extreme female natal site fidelity in the Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea.

ABSTRACT: Pinnipeds (seals, fur seals, sea lions and walrus) form large breeding aggregations with females often remaining faithful to a natal site or area. In these cases, females are philopatric to regional areas on broad geographical scales of hundreds to thousands of kilometers. An investigation of variation in a control region sequence of mtDNA in the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) has shown a case of extreme female natal site fidelity that has resulted in almost fixed population differentiation across its range (PhiST=0.93). This high level of population subdivision over short geographical distances (approx. 60 km) is unparalleled in any social marine mammal and reflects the unique life-history traits of this rare species. The high level of population subdivision and exclusive female n

SUBMITTER: Campbell RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2412930 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature