Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gmelin 1788, Phocidae). 1. Results of the experiment on heightened commercial withdrawal (retrospective evaluation)
https://doi.org/10.26428/1606-9919-2023-203-787-804
EDN: NWIYZC
Abstract
Dynamics of the main parameters of the Baikal seal population (age and sex structure, size and weight indices, reproductive activity) in the years of experiment with heightened commercial withdrawal of the seals (1977–1985) is analyzed on the base of primary field data collected during the spring hunting. The problem of natural limitation for the population abundance is discussed for the case when further growth is limited by carrying capacity of the habitat. The observed changes of age, sex, size, and reproductive parameters reflected intrapopulation processes of the abundance regulation, weakly associated with trophic and density factors. Despite intensive commercial load and negative consequences of unusually early ice melting in 1981, the number of Baikal seal grew until the late 1980s. The withdrawal did not lead to expected improvement of the population status that was explained by underestimation of the stock. Low level (or complete absence) of biological substantiation for the experiment is noted.
Keywords
Baikal seal,
carrying capacity,
population self-regulation,
commercial hunting,
experiment on population dynamics
Supporting agencies: The author is thankful to his colleagues from the Baikal Museum who took part in discussion of the manuscript for their critical comments.
About the Author
E. A. Petrov
Baikal Museum, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Evgeny A. Petrov, D.Biol., principal researcher
Akademicheskaya Str. 1, Listvyanka 664520
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For citations:
Petrov E.A. Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gmelin 1788, Phocidae). 1. Results of the experiment on heightened commercial withdrawal (retrospective evaluation). Izvestiya TINRO. 2023;203(4):787-804. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26428/1606-9919-2023-203-787-804. EDN: NWIYZC
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