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.
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