Papers by Marthan N Bester
Polar Biology, Jan 1, 2008
In this study, we present the Wrst data about putative source populations of the vagrant Subantar... more In this study, we present the Wrst data about putative source populations of the vagrant Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, found on the Brazilian coast, through the comparison of their mitochondrial DNA control sequences to exclusive haplotypes from the main breeding colonies of the species. The results indicated that, despite the majority of the vagrant individuals are from Gough Island (the closest breeding site to the Brazilian coast), they also come from other reproductive colonies, such as Crozet Island, a distance around 16,500 km from the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the molecular data identiWed three possible management units: (1) Gough, (2) Amsterdam, and Marion, Macquarie and Crozet. This signiWcant genetic subdivision must be taken into account in any future management plan for the species conservation, including rehabilitation and even reintroduction of vagrant fur seals.
BESTER, M.N. & ROUX, J P. 1986. Summer presence of leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx at the Courbet... more BESTER, M.N. & ROUX, J P. 1986. Summer presence of leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx at the Courbet Peninsula, Iles Kerguelen. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 16: 29 – 32.
BESTER, M.N. & ROUX, J P. 1986. The second survey of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella on... more BESTER, M.N. & ROUX, J P. 1986. The second survey of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella on the Courbet Peninsula, Iles Kerguelen. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 16: 33 – 37.
BESTER, M.N. 1979. A note on winter seal observations in the South Atlantic pack ice. S. Afr. J. ... more BESTER, M.N. 1979. A note on winter seal observations in the South Atlantic pack ice. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 9: 27 – 28.
BESTER, M.N., BLOOMER, J.P., VAN AARDE, R.J., ERASMUS, B.H., VAN RENSBURG, P.J.J., SKINNER, J.D.,... more BESTER, M.N., BLOOMER, J.P., VAN AARDE, R.J., ERASMUS, B.H., VAN RENSBURG, P.J.J., SKINNER, J.D., HOWELL, P.G. & NAUDE, T.W. 2002. A review of the successful eradication of feral cats from sub-Antarctic Marion Island, Southern Indian Ocean. S. Afr. J. Wildl. Res. 32: 65-73.
WILKINSON, I.S. & BESTER, M.N. 1990. Continued population increase in fur seals, Arctocephalus tr... more WILKINSON, I.S. & BESTER, M.N. 1990. Continued population increase in fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella, at the Prince Edward Islands. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 20: 58 – 63.
THOM, A., VAN DER MERWE, M. & BESTER, M.N. 1999. Seasonal and age-related changes in the microan... more THOM, A., VAN DER MERWE, M. & BESTER, M.N. 1999. Seasonal and age-related changes in the microanatomy of the prostate gland of the Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis. S. Afr. J. Zool. 34: 197-200.
LENGLART, P Y. & BESTER, M.N. 1982. Post weaning dispersion of southern elephant seal Mirounga le... more LENGLART, P Y. & BESTER, M.N. 1982. Post weaning dispersion of southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina underyearlings at Kerguelen. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 36: 175 – 186.
JONKER, F.C. & BESTER, M.N. 1994. The diving behaviour of southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonin... more JONKER, F.C. & BESTER, M.N. 1994. The diving behaviour of southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, cows from Marion Island. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 24: 75 – 93.
HOFMEYR, G.J.G. & BESTER, M.N. 1993. Predation on king penguins by Antarctic fur seals. S. Afr. J... more HOFMEYR, G.J.G. & BESTER, M.N. 1993. Predation on king penguins by Antarctic fur seals. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 23: 71 – 74.
BESTER, M.N. 1990. Population trends of Subantarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals at Gou... more BESTER, M.N. 1990. Population trends of Subantarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals at Gough Island. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 20: 9 – 12.
BESTER, M.N. 1981. Fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx at the Cou... more BESTER, M.N. 1981. Fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx at the Courbet Peninsula, Kerguelen. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 10/11: 35 – 37.
BESTER, M.N. 1982. The effect of the Subantarctic environment on aspects of the terrestrial phase... more BESTER, M.N. 1982. The effect of the Subantarctic environment on aspects of the terrestrial phase of fur seal populations. Com. Nat. fr. Rech. Antarctiques. 51: 469 – 478.
BESTER, M.N. & LENGLART, P Y. 1982. An analysis of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina br... more BESTER, M.N. & LENGLART, P Y. 1982. An analysis of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina breeding population at Kerguelen. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 12: 11 – 16.
BESTER, M.N. & LAYCOCK, P.A. 1985. Cephalopod prey of the sub Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus t... more BESTER, M.N. & LAYCOCK, P.A. 1985. Cephalopod prey of the sub Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, at Gough Island. In: Proceedings of the IVth SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology. Siegfried, W.R., Condy, P.R. & Laws, R.M. (eds), Springer Verlag, Berlin.
BESTER, M.N. 1975. The functional morphology of the kidney of the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pus... more BESTER, M.N. 1975. The functional morphology of the kidney of the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus (Schreber). Madoqua, Ser. 2, 4: 74 – 80.
• A quality-controlled collection of seal-derived hydrographic data is presented
African Journal of Marine Science, 2012
African Journal of Marine Science, 2011
Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina numbers declined precipitously throughout most of their c... more Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina numbers declined precipitously throughout most of their circumpolar distribution since the 1950s. A long-term intensive demographic programme was initiated in 1983 on the relatively small population of southern elephant seals at sub-Antarctic Marion Island in an attempt to identify causative mechanisms associated with this decline. Weaned pups have been tagged annually since 1983, and this has produced a large number of individuals of known identity. A regular resighting programme yielded a mark-recapture dataset that has been subjected to numerous survivalbased models. This ongoing programme produced a substantial body of scientific literature on population growth patterns, vital rates (survival and fecundity) and population regulation in southern elephant seals, which are reviewed in this synthesis. We briefly describe the analytical framework common to much of the demographic research, highlight important conclusions concerning population regulation of elephant seals at Marion Island, and discuss priorities for future research.
Australian Mammalogy, 2002
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Papers by Marthan N Bester