Maternal Care Strategies Differentially Optimize the Health and Immunity of Male and Female South American Fur Seal Pups.

AbstractPinnipeds face increasing challenges that affect how maternal foraging and nursing strategies transfer key resources for immune function and ultimately the survival of their offspring. We evaluated how foraging strategies and maternal care in South American fur seals () affect male and female pup growth, physiology, and immune health. We used capture and recapture data for mothers and their pups and daily monitoring during the austral summers of 2015-2016, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 to assess maternal care.