Survivorship

It has been estimated that almost half the grey seal pups born each year will not survive their first year.  We have been carrying out mark-recapture studies to investigate the factors that affect their probability of survival to age one (Hall et al, 2001).  We have found that relatively fat pups have a higher probability of survival than thinner pups and that males have a much lower porbability of surviving their first year than females. 

We have also been investigating the importance of immune defence mechanisms (both innate and acquired) and their interaction with condition, on survival probability (Hall et al, 2002). 

SMRU have also developed novel, more robust ways of monitoring the animals movements and survival using mobile phone technology. This allows the fate of study animals to be determined, even if they move away from the UK coast.  Generous sponsorship by Siemens Mobile has made this possible. 

Grey Seal Pup