Haulout site selection by southern elephant seals at Marion Island

Using data from an ongoing mark–resight programme at Marion Island, we tested  empirically whether southern elephant seals prefer certain terrestrial sites to others during the breeding, moulting and winter haulouts, and whether the pattern of site use is the same for different age and sex groups. Southern elephant seals preferred some sites, while discriminating against other sites, with different age and sex classes using different sites for certain haulout events. Wintering young animals did not show strong site selection. Some popular sites were used for all haulouts by all age and sex groups, and apparently have all the requirements of a good site for terrestrial haulout by southern elephant seals. Site selection becomes more apparent with age, suggesting the role of haulout experience in site selection.Key words: southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, Marion Island, age group, haulout, site selection

Haemonchus spp. in sheep farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa - effect on haematocrit, conjunctival mucous membrane colour and body condition

A longitudinal study was conducted on the differential faecal egg counts, haematocrits and body condition scores of sheep belonging to resource-poor farmers at Rust de Winter, Gauteng province, and Kraaipan, North West Province, South Africa. The animals were scored for level of anaemia using the FAMACHA(c) method, an assay for the clinical evaluation of anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. Periods of higher Haemonchus egg counts occurred from October to March for sheep at Rust de Winter and from September/October to February or April for sheep at Kraaipan. Lower haematocrit values were registered during these periods as was a higher incidence of anaemic conjunctival mucous membrane colour scores compared to the period April to September. No clear relationship between the faecal egg counts and the body condition scores was evident. Although wider application of the FAMACHA(c) system in sheep raised by resource-poor farmers should be investigated, the present study indicates that this method may certainly prove to be a valuable worm control strategy for such livestock owners

Errata: In the article ‘Haulout site selection by southern elephant seals at Marion Island’ that appeared in

ErrataIn the article ‘Haulout site selection by southern elephant seals at Marion Island’ that appeared in African Zoology 43(1):25–33 (April 2008), the institutional affiliations of the authors should have read:T.W. Mulaudzi1*, G.J.G. Hofmeyr1, M.N. Bester1, S.P. Kirkman1, P.A. Pistorius1,F.C. Jonker1, A.B. Makhado1, J.H. Owen2 & R.J. Grimbeek21. Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa2. Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa*Author for correspondence. Present address: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0002 South Africa.E-mail: [email protected]