First evidence for adoption in California sea lions

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 5; no. 11; p. e13873
• Main Authors: Flatz, Ramona, Gerber, Leah R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 08.11.2010; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Age; Alleles; Altruism; Analysis; Animal behavior; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Animals, Suckling - genetics; Animals, Suckling - physiology; Biopsy; Demographics; Ecology/Behavioral Ecology; Ecology/Marine and Freshwater Ecology; Ecology/Population Ecology; Female; Females; Fitness; Gene Frequency; Genetics and Genomics/Population Genetics; Genotype; Geography; Growth rate; Lactation - genetics; Lactation - physiology; Life sciences; Marine; Marine and Aquatic Sciences/Conservation Science; Marine and Aquatic Sciences/Ecology; Marine mammals; Maternal Behavior - physiology; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Mirounga; Oceans and Seas; Offspring; Otariidae; Phoca vitulina; Population Growth; Population viability; Sea lions; Sea Lions - genetics; Sea Lions - physiology; Strategic planning (Business); Survival; Trends; Zalophus; Zalophus californianus; Gulf of California; Mexico; United States > US; Arizona; INE, USA, California
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013873

Demographic parameters such as birth and death rates determine the persistence of populations. Understanding the mechanisms that influence these rates is essential to developing effective management strategies. Alloparental behavior, or the care of non-filial young, has been documented in many species and has been shown to influence offspring survival. However, the role of alloparental behavior in maintaining population viability has not been previously studied. Here, we provide the first evidence for adoption in California sea lions and show that adoption potentially works to maintain a high survival rate of young and may ultimately contribute to population persistence. Alloparental behavior should have a positive effect on the population growth rate when the sum of the effects on fitness for the alloparent and beneficiary is positive.