The role of the leopoard seal in the tropho-dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

Abstract

The impact that Hydrurga leptonyx predation has on the evolution of the life-history patterns of prey is considered, using data on observed foraging and escape behaviour. The seasonal distribution of prey items may influence the reproductive strategy of leopard seal. The breeding season of the leopard seal is much later in the austral summer than those of other Antarctic seals perhaps related to its ability to utilize relatively many different prey species, resulting in a reproductive strategy that does not require the highly synchronized breeding and young-bearing periods characteristic of other seal species. -from Authors