Parameters for a model of the functional relationships between krill escapement and crabeater seal demographic performance

Estimates are provided for crabeater seal life-history parameters, to be incorporated into a simple model of the functional relationships between krill escapement and crabeater seal demographic performance. The crabeater seal parameters were estimated from seals collected near the Antarctic Peninsula between 1964 and 1990. Average annual survival rate of adults was estimated to be 0.93. Age at sexual maturity was estimated to be 3.8 years. Of 44 annual estimates of historical cohort strength, 16 were judged to represent “ good" years for demographic performance, 18 as "poor" years, and 10 as "bad" years.