Fine-Scale Breeding Habitat Preferences of Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) on Península Valdés

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on Península Valdés exhibit consistent and repeatable breeding habitat preferences, forming harems in bays sheltered by cliffs with gentle slopes (<4°) and unconsolidated substrates. Non-reproductive groups, meanwhile, occupy shelf points. This study, spanning a decade of population stability (2001–2007, 2010), analyzed ten topographic variables along 12 km of coastline during peak breeding seasons to reveal these fine-scale patterns. The findings contribute to understanding large-scale distribution trends in southern elephant seal colonies, offering insights into their ecological requirements and spatial organization.

Retana, M. (2013). Fine-Scale Breeding Habitat Preferences of Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) on Península Valdés. Aquatic Mammals, 39(3), 233–240. https://doi.org/10.1578/am.39.3.2013.233