Studies on the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L.). I. Introduction to the series

Abstract

The historical and geographical status of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (L.), are discussed, and the effects of commercial sealing operations are described. Research on M. leonina and on the northern elephant seal, M. angustirostris Gill, is briefly reviewed. An outline is given of the field techniques and of the ecological and related studies at Heard Island and Macquarie Island, based on the individual branding of 6852 pups during 1949–1961 by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions.