Register      Login
Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Changes in the abundance and distribution of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) in Western Australia: are they approaching carrying capacity?

Richard Campbell A B C , David Holley A , Peter Collins A and Shannon Armstrong A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Parks and Wildlife, Marine Science Program, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6917, Australia.

B Edith Cowan University, School of Natural Sciences, Centre for Marine Ecosystem Research, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: rac.pmc@gmail.com

Australian Journal of Zoology 62(4) 261-267 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO14016
Submitted: 10 March 2014  Accepted: 5 July 2014   Published: 25 August 2014

Abstract

New Zealand fur seals have been increasing in abundance across Australia over the past 20 years, with annual population growth rates of 10–15%. Recent changes in distribution in Western Australia suggested that the population was increasing and expanding in range beyond the known historical distribution. We aimed to determine the growth rate of individual colonies and the overall population across Western Australia and identify new breeding and haulout sites. We used the direct count technique to estimate New Zealand fur seal pup production at 17 breeding sites. We estimated pup production to be 3518 in the 2010/11 austral summer, producing a resultant population estimate of ~17 200 New Zealand fur seals in Western Australia. This represented an exponential growth rate over the past 12 years of ~1% per annum, a significant reduction from the estimated rate of 10% per annum between 1989 and 1999. There were clusters of colonies that showed large annual declines of 6–7% in pup production over the past 12 years and at other colonies maximal rates of increase of pup production were 6–9% per annum. Three new breeding colonies were discovered. It appears that the New Zealand fur seal population is nearing its carrying capacity in Western Australia.


References

Amos, W., and Balmford, A. (2001). When does conservation genetics matter? Heredity 87, 257–265.
When does conservation genetics matter?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XitFegtA%3D%3D&md5=cc7387aa80361e3780776277048cb467CAS | 11737272PubMed |

Arnould, J. P. Y., Littnan, C. L., and Lento, G. M. (2000). First contemporary record of New Zealand fur seals Arctocephalus forsteri breeding in Bass Strait. Australian Mammalogy 222, 57–61.

Berkson, J. M., and Demaster, D. P. (1985). Use of pup counts in indexing population changes in pinnipeds. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 42, 873–879.
Use of pup counts in indexing population changes in pinnipeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boren, L. J., Muller, C. G., and Gemmell, N. J. (2006). Colony growth and pup condition of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) on the Kaikoura coastline compared with other east coast rookeries. Wildlife Research 33, 497–505.
Colony growth and pup condition of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) on the Kaikoura coastline compared with other east coast rookeries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boyce, M. S. (1992). Population viability analysis. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 23, 481–497.
Population viability analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bradshaw, C. J. A., Lalas, C., Perriman, L., Harcourt, R. G., Best, H., and Davis, L. S. (1999). Seasonal oscillation in shore attendance and transience of New Zealand fur seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, 814–823.
Seasonal oscillation in shore attendance and transience of New Zealand fur seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bradshaw, C. J. A., Davis, L. S., Lalas, C., and Harcourt, R. G. (2000a). Geographic and temporal variation in the condition of pups of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): evidence for density dependence and differences in the marine environment. Journal of Zoology 252, 41–51.
Geographic and temporal variation in the condition of pups of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): evidence for density dependence and differences in the marine environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bradshaw, C. J. A., Lalas, C., and Thompson, C. M. (2000b). Clustering of colonies in an expanding population of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). Journal of Zoology 250, 105–112.
Clustering of colonies in an expanding population of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell, R. (2005). Historical distribution and abundance of the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) on the west coast of Western Australia. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, No. 148, Perth.

Caughley, G. (1980). ‘Analysis of Vertebrate Populations.’ (Wiley: London.)

Caughley, G. (1994). Directions in conservation biology. Journal of Animal Ecology 63, 215–244.
Directions in conservation biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cresswell, G. R., and Domingues, C. M. (2007). The Leeuwin Current south of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 92, 83–100.

Cumpston, J. S. (1974). Kangaroo Island 1800–1836. Roebuck Society Publication, Canberra.

Doidge, D. W., Croxall, J. P., and Baker, J. R. (1984). Density-dependent pup mortality in the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at South Georgia. Journal of Zoology 202, 449–460.
Density-dependent pup mortality in the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at South Georgia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

ESRI (2006). ArcMap v9.2. (Redlands: CA)

Flinders, M. (1814). ‘A Voyage to Terra Australis … Prosecuted in the Years 1801 (to) 1803 in His Majesty’s Ship the Investigator …’ (G. and W. Nicol: London.)

Forcada, J., Trathan, P. N., Reid, K., and Murphy, E. J. (2005). The effects of global climate variability in pup production of antarctic fur seals. Ecology 86, 2408–2417.
The effects of global climate variability in pup production of antarctic fur seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fowler, C. W., Merrick, R., and Baker, J. D. (1990). Studies of the population level effects of entanglement on northern fur seals. In ‘Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Marine Debris. Vol. NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-154’. (Eds R. S. Shomura and M. L. Godfrey.) pp. 453–474. (US Department of Commerce, NMFS: Honolulu, HI.)

Gales, N. J., Haberley, B., and Collins, P. (2000). Changes in the abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in Western Australia. Wildlife Research 27, 165–168.
Changes in the abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gibbens, J., and Arnould, J. P. Y. (2009). Interannual variation in pup production and the timing of breeding in benthic foraging Australian fur seals. Marine Mammal Science 25, 573–587.
Interannual variation in pup production and the timing of breeding in benthic foraging Australian fur seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gilpin, M., and Soulé, M. (1986). Minimum viable populations: processes of species extinction. In ‘Conservation Biology: the Science of Scarcity and Diversity’. (Ed. M. Soulé.) (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)

Goldsworthy, S. D., and Page, B. (2007). A risk-assessment approach to evaluating the significance of seal bycatch in two Australian fisheries. Biological Conservation 139, 269–285.
A risk-assessment approach to evaluating the significance of seal bycatch in two Australian fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Goldsworthy, S. D., Page, B., Shaughnessy, P., McKenzie, J., and Campbell, R. (2009). Update to the report: Understanding impediments to the growth of Australian sea lion populations. SARDI Research Report No. 356. SARDI, Adelaide.

Guinet, C., Jouventin, P., and Georges, J. Y. (1994). Long-term population changes of fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Arctocephalus tropicalis on sub-antarctic (Crozet) and subtropical (St-Paul and Amsterdam) islands and their possible relationship to El Niño Southern Oscillation. Antarctic Science 6, 473–478.
Long-term population changes of fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Arctocephalus tropicalis on sub-antarctic (Crozet) and subtropical (St-Paul and Amsterdam) islands and their possible relationship to El Niño Southern Oscillation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Harcourt, R. G., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Dickson, K., and Davis, L. S. (2002). Foraging ecology of a generalist predator, the female New Zealand fur seal. Marine Ecology Progress Series 227, 11–24.
Foraging ecology of a generalist predator, the female New Zealand fur seal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Harwood, J., and Prime, J. (1978). Some factors affecting the size of British grey seal populations. Journal of Applied Ecology 15, 401–411.
Some factors affecting the size of British grey seal populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hedrick, P. W., Lacy, R. C., Allendorf, F., and Soulé, M. E. (1996). Directions in conservation biology: Comments on Caughley. Conservation Biology 10, 1312–1320.
Directions in conservation biology: Comments on Caughley.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lalas, C., and Harcourt, R. (1995). Pup production of the New Zealand fur seal on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 25, 81–88.
Pup production of the New Zealand fur seal on Otago Peninsula, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ling, J. K. (1999). Exploitation of fur seals and sea lions from Australian, New Zealand and adjacent subantarctic islands during the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Australian Zoologist 31, 323–350.
Exploitation of fur seals and sea lions from Australian, New Zealand and adjacent subantarctic islands during the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mawson, P. R., and Coughran, D. K. (1999). Records of sick, injured and dead pinnipeds in Western Australia 1980–1996. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 82, 121–128.

McAuley, R., and Simpfendorfer, C. (2003). Catch composition of the Westen Australian temperate demersal gillnet and demersal longline fisheries, 1994 to 1999. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, Fisheries Research Report No. 146, Perth.

Page, B., McKenzie, J., McIntosh, R., Baylis, A, Morrissey, A, Calvert, N, Haase, T, Berris, M, Dowie, D, Shaughnessy, P. D., and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2004). Entanglement of Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals in lost fishing gear and other marine debris before and after Government and industry attempts to reduce the problem. Marine Pollution Bulletin 49, 33–42.
Entanglement of Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals in lost fishing gear and other marine debris before and after Government and industry attempts to reduce the problem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXlsVShu78%3D&md5=12bc635e64c0dbcae80b0c0007778b2bCAS | 15234872PubMed |

Page, B., McKenzie, J., and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2005a). Dietary resource partitioning among sympatric New Zealand and Australian fur seals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 293, 283–302.
Dietary resource partitioning among sympatric New Zealand and Australian fur seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Page, B., McKenzie, J., and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2005b). Inter-sexual differences in New Zealand fur seal diving behaviour. Marine Ecology Progress Series 304, 249–264.
Inter-sexual differences in New Zealand fur seal diving behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Page, B., McKenzie, J., and Sumner, M. D. (2006). Spatial separation of foraging habitats among New Zealand fur seals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323, 263–279.
Spatial separation of foraging habitats among New Zealand fur seals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pattiaratchi, C. (2007). Understanding areas of high productivity in the south-west marine region. Prepared for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Perth.

Payne, M. (1977). Growth of a fur seal population. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 279, 67–79.
Growth of a fur seal population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pearce, A., and Pattiaratchi, C. (1997). Applications of satellite remote sensing to the marine environment in Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 80, 1–14.

Richards, R. (2003). New market evidence on the depletion of southern fur seals: 1788–1833. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 30, 1–9.
New market evidence on the depletion of southern fur seals: 1788–1833.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Roux, J.-P. (1987). Recolonization processes in the Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island. National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA Technical Report 51, pp. 189–194.

Scott, A. (1920). Summary of report on sealing in the Recherche Archipelago. In Vol. PR 6476. (Battye Library.)

Serventy, W. N. (1952). Mammals. In ‘The Archipelago of the Recherche’. pp. 46–47. (Australian Geographical Society: Melbourne.)

Shaughnessy, P. D. (1999). The Action Plan for Australian Seals. Report to Environment Australia, Canberra.

Shaughnessy, P. D. (2006). Population assessment of fur seals and sea lions at some colonies in South Australia, 2005–06. Report to Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia.

Shaughnessy, P. D., and Goldsworthy, S. D. (2007). Population assessment of fur seals and sea lions at some colonies in South Australia, 2006–07. Report to Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Shaughnessy, P. D., Gales, N. J., Dennis, T. E., and Goldsworthy, S. D. (1994). Distribution and abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in South Australia and Western Australia. Wildlife Research 21, 667–695.
Distribution and abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in South Australia and Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shaughnessy, P. D., Troy, S. K., Kirkwood, R. J., and Nicholls, A. O. (2000). Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks, Victoria: pup abundance by mark–recapture estimation shows continued increase. Wildlife Research 27, 629–633.
Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks, Victoria: pup abundance by mark–recapture estimation shows continued increase.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shaughnessy, P. D., McKenzie, J., Lancaster, M. L., Goldsworthy, S. D., and Dennis, T. E. (2010). Australian fur seals establish haulout sites and a breeding colony in South Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 94–103.
Australian fur seals establish haulout sites and a breeding colony in South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Soto, K. H., Trites, A. W., and Arias-Schreiber, M. (2006). Changes in diet and maternal attendance of South American sea lions indicate changes in the marine environment and prey abundance. Marine Ecology Progress Series 312, 277–290.
Changes in diet and maternal attendance of South American sea lions indicate changes in the marine environment and prey abundance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Trillmich, F., and Limberger, D. (1985). Drastic effects of El Niño on Galapagos Ecuador pinnipeds. Oecologia 67, 19–22.
Drastic effects of El Niño on Galapagos Ecuador pinnipeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |