Current state of the Baikal seal population (Pusa sibirica, Pinnipedia, Phocidae): feeding and fatness

摘要

Characteristics of feeding in the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gm.) in the 1990s related to its age, sex and season of observations is given based on the author's data. The feeding is described depending on the physiological state of animals (lactation, hair sheeding) in comparison with feeding in previous years. Dynamics of body mass, the hypodemic fat amount and fatness of animals testify that 1992 was the most favorable year for the seal. Poor sides of the applied "otolith" method for investigating the feeding are shown.