Larga (Phoca largha) v Zalive Petra Velikogo [The Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) in the Peter the Great Bay]

About this book

Language: Russian with bilingual summary, table of contents and figure captions in English and Russian

Long-term studies on the spotted seal (Phoca largha) territorial grouping in the Peter the Great Bay, which is the smallest reproductive concentration of this species and characterized by such an unique feature as coastal breeding, are summarized in this monograph. Specific characters of the spotted seal habitat in the bay are analyzed and cadastral description of all haulout sites is given. Four types of largha associations ashore are characterized and the cycle of its transformation is considered. Current status of the spotted seal population and threats to its stable existence in the Bay are discussed. Recommendations for the establishment of the southern populations of this species in the Red Book of Primorsky Krai and the Russian Federation are substantiated.

Contents

Introduction   5

Chapter 1. Spotted seal: general information   8
   1.1. Species characteristic   8
   1.2. Characteristics of the spotted seal coastal form in the south of the range   13

Chapter 2. Peter the Great Bay: Characteristics and conditions of spotted seal habitat   26
   2.1. General characteristics of the Bay   26
   2.2. Ice conditions and relationship of the spotted seal with ice   33
   2.3. Islands   39

Chapter 3. Haulout sites   44
   3.1. Terminology and interpretation of the "haulout site" concept   44
   3.2. The procedure for haulout site establishing and its description   47
   3.3. Haulout sites of the spotted seal in the Peter the Great Bay   53
      3.3.1. Haulout site areas   53
         3.3.1.1. South   54
         3.3.1.2. Central   63
         3.3.1.3.North   106
         3.3.1.4. East   111
      3.3.2. Transit sites   115

Chapter 4. Ashore associations   117
   4.1. Ashore association types   117
      4.1.1. Preliminary   118
      4.1.2. Reproductive   120
      4.1.3. Molting   127
      4.1.4. Rehabilitative   129
   4.2. Cycle of ashore association transformation   132

Chapter 5. Dynamics of quantitative characteristics of the spotted seal grouping in Peter the Great Bay   135
   5.1. Abundance of the spotted seal in the south of the range   135
   5.2. Methods of determining of seal abundance in the Peter the Great Bay   137
   5.3. The number of spotted seals in different types of ashore associations   139
   5.4. General patterns of quantitative indicator dynamics .  149

Chapter 6. Space use   152
   6.1. Haulout site use   152
      6.1.1. Using of haulout sites of different type   152
      6.1.2. Dynamics of haulout site use   159
   6.2. Space use in the waters of the Rimsky-Korsakov Archipelago   163
      6.2.1. Territory use by yearlings   163
      6.2.2. Territory use by immature individuals   174
   6.3. Migration and philopatry   177

Chapter 7. Current state of the spotted seal population and threats of its stable existence in the Peter the Great Bay   181
   7.1. Modern state of population and its biocenotic importance in the Bay   181
   7.2. Threats of stable existence   184
   7.3. Spotted seal and people   196

Conclusion   199
References   205

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