Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 3 January 1969:
Vol. 163. no. 3862, pp. 91 - 93
DOI: 10.1126/science.163.3862.91
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Social Status and Mating Activity in Elephant Seals

Burney J. Le Boeuf 1 and Richard S. Peterson 2

1 Crown College, University of California, Satnta Crutz 95060
2 Stevenson College, University of California, Santa Cruz 95060

Individually marked male elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, observed on an island off central California participate in a social hierarchy resembling the peck order of domestic chickens. Individuals achieve status by fighting and maintain it by stereotyped threat displays. The higher the status of a male, the more readily he approaches and copulates with females. Four percent of the males inseminated 85 percent of the females.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
State-dependent male mating tactics in the grey seal: the importance of body size.
D. C. Lidgard, D. J. Boness, W. D. Bowen, and J. I. McMillan (2005)
Behav. Ecol. 16, 541-549
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The ontogeny of metabolic rate and thermoregulatory capabilities of northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, pups in air and water.
M. Donohue, D. Costa, M. Goebel, and J. Baker (2000)
J. Exp. Biol. 203, 1003-1016
   Abstract »    PDF »
On the significance of the concept of the harem when applied to animals.
T. E. Rowell (1987)
Social Science Information 26, 649-669
Demography of Northern Elephant Seals, 1911-1982.
C. F. COOPER and B. S. STEWART (1983)
Science 219, 969-971
   Abstract »    PDF »
Behavior maintained by termination of a schedule of self-administered cocaine.
R. Spealman (1979)
Science 204, 1231-1233
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ecology, sexual selection, and the evolution of mating systems.
S. Emlen and L. Oring (1977)
Science 197, 215-223
   PDF »
Social Organization in the Bat Myotis adversus.
P. D. Dwyer (1970)
Science 168, 1006-1008
   Abstract »    PDF »
Dialects in Elephant Seals.
B. J. Le Boeuf and R. S. Peterson (1969)
Science 166, 1654-1656
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)