Food energy requirements of the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) population in the Barents and White Seas
Open Access
- 1 December 1991
- journal article
- Published by Norwegian Polar Institute in Polar Research
- Vol. 10 (2) , 603-608
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.1991.tb00678.x
Abstract
The harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) population of the Barents and White seas has probably decreased from about one million individuals to half this size the last few years. Energy requirements of the population have been estimated by use of the simulation model SEAERG. In this model the energy requirements of an individual seal from each age group is multiplied with the group size and summed to provide the requirements of the population. In addition to population size and age structure the total food and energy requirement is sensitive to individual activity levels as well as metabolic levels and other specified physiological functions. The interactions between the seal population and fisheries depends on the caloric density of the prey species which varies with season and location. Realistic simulations of interactions between seals and fisheries require more information about spatial and temporal variations in the prey selection of harp seals than is available today. Present estimates indicate average maintenance requirements of about 13,600 and ll,150kcal/day for adult female and male harp seals respectively. The high value for the females is due to the costs of pregnancy and lactation. With a mean energy density of prey of 1500 kcal/kg, the corresponding food consumption is 9 kg/day for females and 7.4 kg/day for males.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Food consumption of the NE Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) population estimated with a simulation modelICES Journal of Marine Science, 1992
- Feeding Habits of Northeast Atlantic Harp Seals (Phoca groenlandica) along the Summer Ice Edge of the Barents SeaCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 1991
- Outline of a physiologically based model for population energeticsEcological Modelling, 1990
- POPULATION ECOLOGY OF SEALS: RETROSPECTIVE and PROSPECTIVE VIEWSMarine Mammal Science, 1985
- Metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance and faecal and urinary losses of juvenile harp seals (Phoca groenlandica)Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1984
- Growth in Northwest Atlantic Harp seals Phoca groenlandicaJournal of Zoology, 1981
- Feeding, Growth, and Productivity of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus)Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1973