Change in the foraging strategy of female South American sea lions (Carnivora: Pinnipedia) after parturition

Massimiliano Drago; Luís Cardona; Enrique A. Crespo; Néstor García; Santiago Ameghino; Alex Aguilar

doi:10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3589

Autores/as

Massimiliano Drago Department of Animal Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona
Luís Cardona Department of Animal Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona
Enrique A. Crespo Laboratory of Marine Mammals, Centro Nacional Patagonico (CENPAT-CONICET) - National University of Patagonia
Néstor García Laboratory of Marine Mammals, Centro Nacional Patagonico (CENPAT-CONICET)
Santiago Ameghino National University of Patagonia
Alex Aguilar Department of Animal Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3589

Palabras clave:

león marino sudamericano, dieta, estrategias tróficas, lactancia, Otaria flavescens, isótopos estables, modelos de mezcla bayesianos

Resumen

El presente estudio pretende comprobar si las hembras del león marino sudamericano adoptan una dieta más bentónica y costera tras el parto, con el fin de reducir la duración de los viajes de alimentación y reducir así el tiempo durante el cual las crías permanecen desatendidas en la playa. Para ello, se determinaron las concentraciones de isótopos estables de carbono y nitrógeno en el suero y las células sanguíneas de 26 crías lactantes de león marino sudamericano del norte de la Patagonia, con el fin de reconstruir la dieta de la madre durante la parte final de la gestación y el inicio de la lactancia, tras la correspondiente corrección del fraccionamiento isotópico entre tejidos. También se analizaron muestras de productores primarios y de presas potenciales para ayudar en la interpretación de los resultados. Las concentraciones de isótopos estables antes y después del parto confirmaron un incremento en el consumo de presas bentónicas costeras tras el parto. Este cambio generalizado de dieta tras el parto permitiría a las hembras incrementar el tiempo que pasan junto a las crías. Se discuten los efectos que esta estrategia puede tener sobre la calidad de la dieta de las hembras.

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Citas

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