%0 Journal Article
%T Time budgets and activity patterns of sub-Antarctic fur seals at Gough Island
%A M.N. Bester
%A G.J. Rossouw
%J African Zoology
%D 2012
%I 
%X ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The diurnal activity patterns of sub-Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis, were observed at a nonbreeding colony site at Gough lsland (40'20'S, 9'54'W) during summer. Time budgets of adult males were also studied at idle and breeding colony sites. Levels of activity were highest during the early morning and late afternoon. High ambient temperatures depressed the interaction rate on the dry hauling ground, but activity increased as a result of the movement of heat-stressed seals to and from the sea where favourable conditions for heat loss exist. The fur seals were largely inactive, in particular adult males which spent 93,27% of the time inactive in breeding colonies and 97,9% of the time inactive at idle colony beaches. The daily change numbers ashore, the relative contribution of the different age and sex classes, their location and distribution on site, ano the prevailing weather conditions influence the pattern of interaction and allocation of time to the various activities in A. tropicalis. The predominance of inactivity is considered to be a behavioural thermoregulatory response to limit endogenous heat production as is energy conservation. Both views translate into improved tenure for territorial males, in particular those without access to water for cooling during the breeding season. ********* AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aktiwiteitspatrone van sub-Antarktiese pelsrobbe, Arctocephalus tropicalis, is gedurende die dag by 'n nie-teelkolonie te Gougheiland gedurende die somer waargeneem. Tydsbegrotings van volwasse mannetjies is ook by vrygesel- en teelkoloinies bestudeer. Vlakke van aktiwiteit was die hoogste gedurende die vroe  oggend en laat namiddag. Ho  omgewingstemperature het die tempo van interaksie op die dro  strandgebied versnel, maar aktiwiteit het toegeneem as gevolg van die beweging van robbe wat deur die hitte affekteer is, na en van die see waar voordelige omstindighede vir hitte verlies heers. Die pelsrobbe was hoogsaaklik onaktief,  in besonder volwasse mannetjies, wat 93,2% van hul tyd in teelkolonies en tot 97,9%  van die tyd onaktief vrygesel kolonies verkeer het. Die daaglikse verandering in getalle aan wa, die relatiewe bydrae van die verskillende ouderdom- en geslagsklasse, hul posisie en verspreiding op die strand, en die heersende weersomstandighede be nvloed die patroon van interaksie en toedeling van tyd aan die verskeie aktiwiteite in A. tropicalis. Die oorheersende onaktiwiteit word beskou as hittereguleringsgedrag om endogene hitteproduksie te beperk soos met energiebesparing. Beide gesigspunt
%K Time budgets
%K activity patterns
%K sub-Antarctic
%K fur seals
%K Gough Island
%K Arctocephalus tropicalis
%K nonbreeding colony
%K heat-stressed seals
%K interaction
%K A. tropicalis
%U http://africanzoology.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/558