For complete lists of all author's publications please see the "People" page and links to other websites therein. The following illustrates work directly related to MIMMP and MIMMP collaborative activities. Feel free to contact us for pdfs.

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

2023

Oosthuizen WC, Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Altwegg W, de Bruyn PJN (2023) Reproductive phenology is a repeatable, heritable trait linked to the timing of other life-history events in a migratory marine predator. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 290: 20231170

Jordaan RK, Oosthuizen WC, Reisinger RR, de Bruyn PJN (2023) The effect of prey abundance and fisheries on the survival, reproduction, and social structure of killer whales (Orcinus orca) at subantarctic Marion Island. Ecology and Evolution 13: e10144

Lloyd KJ, Oosthuizen WC, Rotella JJ, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN (2023) Density-related reproductive costs and natal conditions predict male life history in a highly polygynous mammal. Animal Behaviour 200: 183-197

Lasch KG, Tosh CA, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN (2023) The ontogeny of at-sea behaviour in male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Marion Island. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 558: 151833

2022

Rudolph EM, Hedding DW, de Bruyn PJN, New W (2022) An open access geospatial database for the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. South African Journal of Science 118(9-10) #12303.

Conry DS, de Bruyn PJN, Pistorius PA, Cockcroft VG, Penry GS (2022) Alloparental care of a bottlenose and common dolphin calf by a female Indian Ocean Humpback dolphin along the Garden Route, South Africa. Aquatic Mammals 48: 197-202.

Reisinger RR, Corney S, Raymond B, Lombard AT, Bester MN, Crawford RJ, Davies D, de Bruyn PJN, Dilley BJ, Kirkman, SP, Makhado AB, Ryan PG, Schoombie S, Stevens KL, Tosh CA, Wege M, Whitehead TO, Sumner MD, Wotherspoon S, Friedlaender AS, Cotte C, Hindell MA, Ropert-Coudert Y & Pistorius PA. 2022. Habitat model forecasts suggest potential redistribution of marine predators in the southern Indian Ocean. Diversity and Distributions 28: 142-159. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13447

Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG & Bartlett PA. 2022. Dispersion of a southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina to Possession Island, Namibia. Polar Biology 45:951–958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03032-5

Bester MN & Connan M. 2022. Cephalopod prey of juvenile southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina from Marion Island, South Indian Ocean. Polar Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03070-z

2021

Bester MN. 2021. Status of pinnipeds on mid-Atlantic ridge islands, South Atlantic Ocean. Polar Biology 44: 865–871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02838-z

Bester MN. 2021. Vagrant sub-Antarctic fur seal at tropical Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean. Polar Biology 44: 451–454. doi:10.1007/s00300-021-02800-z

Bester MN, Lübcker N, Haddad W, Bornemann H & Wege M. 2021. Antarctic pack ice seal observations during spring across the lazarev sea. Polar Record 57, e12: 1-6. https://doi:10.1017/S003224742100005X

Bester MN, Stansfield LJ, Glass T & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Fish prey of sub-Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis at the Tristan da Cunha Islands, South Atlantic Ocean. Polar Biology 44: 1015-1020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02849-w

de Kock L, Oosthuizen WC, Beltran RS, Bester MN & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Determinants of moult haulout phenology and duration in southern elephant seals. Scientific Reports 11: 13331. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92635-9

Hooker SK, Andrews RD, Arnould JPY, Bester MN, Davis RW, Insley SJ, Gales NJ, Goldsworthy SD & McKnight JC. 2021. Fur seals do, but sea lions don't - cross taxa insights into exhalation during ascent from dives. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.Series B, Biological Sciences 376(1830): 20200219. https://doi:10.1098/rstb.2020.0219

Jordaan RK, Reisinger RR, Oosthuizen WC & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Seasonal fission and fusion of killer whale, Orcinus orca, social structure at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Animal Behaviour 177: 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.007

Lübcker N, Newsome SD, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Validating the use of bulk tissue stable isotope and amino acid δ15N values measured in molted hair and epidermis of elephant seals to assess temporal foraging niche specialization. Marine Ecology Progress Series 673: 229-243. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13772

Oosthuizen WC, Péron G, Pradel R, Bester MN & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Positive early‐late life‐history trait correlations in elephant seals. Ecology 102: e03288. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3288

Oosthuizen WC, Reisinger RR, Bester MN, Steinhage D, Auel H, Flores H, Knust R, Ryan S & Bornemann H. 2021. Habitat-based density models of pack-ice seal distribution in the southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Marine Ecology Progress Series 673: 211-227. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13787

Prinsloo ND, Postma M & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. How unique is unique? Quantifying geometric differences in stripe patterns of Cape mountain zebra, Equus zebra zebra (Perissodactyla: Equidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 191(2): 612-625. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa036

Prinsloo ND, Postma M, Ryan PG, Coetzee M, de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Estimating bird flight height using 3-D photogrammetry. Journal of Zoology 314: 174-186. https://doi:10.1111/jzo.12879

van Tonder A, Lübcker N, Guerreiro M, Xavier JC, Cherel Y & de Bruyn PJN. 2021. Ecology of Moroteuthopsis longimana at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands, revealed through stable isotope analysis of squid beaks. Marine Ecology Progress Series 658: 105-115. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13556

Woolley MR, Chinsamy A, Govender R & Bester MN. 2021. Microanatomy and histology of bone pathologies of extant and extinct phocid seals. Historical Biology 33(8): 1231-1246. https://doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1689238

2020

Bester MN, Bornemann H, Daneri GA, van den Hoff J. 2020. Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina L.) in the Antarctic Treaty Area. SCAR Antarctic Environments Portal, Information Summary, Southern Ocean Environment. https://doi.org/10.48361/crd1-hm41

Bester MN, Dilley BJ, Davies D & Glass T. 2020. Sub-Antarctic fur seals depredate northern rockhopper penguins at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha. Polar Biology 43: 925–927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02688-1

Bester MN, Wege M, Oosthuizen WC, Bornemann H. 2020. Ross seal distribution in the Weddell Sea: fact and fallacy. Polar Biology 43: 35-41.

Hindell MA, Reisinger RR, Ropert-Coudert Y, Hückstädt LA, Trathan PN, Bornemann H, Charrassin JB, Chown SL, Costa DP, Danis B, Lea MA, Thompson D, Torres LG, Van de Putte AP, Alderman R, Andrews-Goff V, Arthur B, Ballard G, Bengtson J, Bester MN, Blix AS, Boehme L, Bost CA, Boveng P, Cleeland J, Constantine R, Corney S, Crawford RJM, Rosa LD, de Bruyn PJN, Delord K, Descamps S, Double M, Emmerson L, Fedak M, Friedlaender A, Gales N, Goebel ME, Goetz KT, Guinet C, Goldsworthy SD, Harcourt R, Hinke JT, Jerosch K, Kato A , Kerry KR, Kirkwood R, Kooyman GL, Kovacs KM, Lawton K, Lowther AD, Lydersen C, Lyver PO’B, Makhado AB, Márquez MEI, McDonald BI, McMahon CR, Muelbert M, Nachtsheim D, Nicholls KW, Nordøy ES, Olmastroni S, Phillips RA, Pistorius P, Plötz J, Pütz K, Ratcliffe N, Ryan PG, Santos M, Southwell C, Staniland I, Takahashi A, Tarroux A, Trivelpiece W, Wakefield E, Weimerskirch H, Wienecke B, Xavier JC, Wotherspoon S, Jonsen ID & Raymond B. 2020. Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems. Nature 580: 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2126-y

Jordaan RK, Oosthuizen WC, Reisinger RR & de Bruyn PJN. 2020. Abundance, survival and population growth of killer whales Orcinus orca at subantarctic Marion Island. Wildlife Biology 2020(4): wlb.00732

Lloyd KJ, Oosthuizen WC, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2020. Trade-offs between age-related breeding improvement and survival senescence in highly polygynous elephant seals: Dominant males always do better. Journal of Animal Ecology 89: 897–909. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13145

Lloyd KJ, Oosthuizen WC, Fay R, Bester MN & de Bruyn PJN. 2020. Selective disappearance of frail juveniles: consequences for understanding social dominance in adult male elephant seals. Oikos. doi:10.1111/oik.07434

Lübcker N, Bloem LM, du Toit T, Swart P, de Bruyn PJN, Swart AC, Millar RP. 2020. What’s in a whisker? High-throughput analysis of twenty-eight C19 and C21 steroids in mammalian whiskers by ultra-performance convergence chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B 1141: 122028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122028

Lübcker N, Whiteman JP, Millar RP, de Bruyn PJN & Newsome SD. 2020. Fasting affects amino acid nitrogen isotope values: a new tool for identifying nitrogen balance of free-ranging mammals. Oecologia 193: 53-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04645-5

Lübcker N, Whiteman JP, Newsome SD, Millar RP & de Bruyn PJN. 2020. Can the carbon and nitrogen isotope values of offspring be used as a proxy for their mother’s diet? Using foetal physiology to interpret bulk tissue and amino acid δ15N values. Conservation Physiology 8. https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coaa060

Oosthuizen WC, Krüger L, Jouanneau W, Lowther AD. 2020. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of the Antarctic shag (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) breeding colony at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biology 43: 187-191.

Paijmans AJ, Stofel MA, Bester MN, Cleary AC, de Bruyn PJN, Forcada J, Goebel ME, Goldsworthy SD, Guinet C, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Lowther A & Hofman JI. 2020. The genetic legacy of extreme exploitation in a polar vertebrate. Scientific Reports 10: 5089. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61560-8

Reisinger RR, Penfold M, Bester MN & Steenkamp G. 2020. Seal bites at sub-Antarctic Marion Island: Incidence, outcomes and treatment recommendations. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 91: a1720. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v91i0.1720

Ropert-Coudert Y, Van de Putte AP, Reisinger RR, Bornemann H, Charrassin JB, Costa DP, Danis B, Hückstädt LA, Jonsen ID, Lea MA, Thompson D, Torres LG, Trathan PN, Wotherspoon S, Ainley DG, Alderman R, Andrews-Gof V, Arthur B, Ballard G, Bengtson J, Bester MN, Blix AS, Boehme L, Bost CA, Boveng P, Cleeland J, Constantine R, Crawford RJM, Rosa LD, de Bruyn PJN, Delord K, Descamps S, Double M, Emmerson L, Fedak M, Friedlaender A, Gales N, Goebel M, Goetz KT, Guinet C, Goldsworthy SD, Harcourt R, Hinke JT, Jerosch K, Kato A, Kerry KR, Kirkwood R, Kooyman GL, Kovacs KM, Lawton K, Lowther AD, Lydersen C, Lyver PO’B, Makhado AB, Márquez MEI, McDonald BI, McMahon CR, Muelbert M, Nachtsheim D, Nicholls KW, Nordøy ES, Olmastroni S, Phillips RA, Pistorius P, Plötz J, Pütz K, Ratclife N, Ryan PG, Santos M, Southwell C, Staniland I, Takahashi A, Tarroux A, Trivelpiece W, Wakefeld E, Weimerskirch H, Wienecke B, Xavier JC, Raymond B & Hindell MA. 2020. The retrospective analysis of Antarctic tracking data project. Scientific Data 7: 94. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0406-x

Walters A, Hindell M, Goebel ME, Bester MN, Trathan PN, Oosthuizen WC & Lea MA. 2020. Southern Ocean isoscapes derived from a wide-ranging circumpolar marine predator, the Antarctic fur seal. Ecological Indicators 118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106694

2019

Bester MN, Wege M, Glass T. 2019. Increase of sub‐Antarctic fur seals at the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Polar Biology 42: 231-235

Bester MN & Ryan PG. 2019. Early pupping of a sub-Antarctic fur seal at Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha. Polar Biology 42: 1221-1224

Bester MN & Ryan PG. 2019. Stalked barnacles on an adult male sub-Antarctic fur seal at Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha. Polar Biology 42: 1943-1946. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02560-x

Cleary AC, Bester MN, Forcada J, Goebel M, Goldsworthy S, Guinet C, Hoffman JI, Kovacs KM, Lyderson C, Lowther AD. 2019. Prey differences drive local genetic adaptation in Antarctic fur seals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 628: 195-209

Du Toit KH, Mole MA, Wege M, Reisinger RR, Oosthuizen CW, Shihlomule YD, Jordaan RK, van Tonder A, De Bruyn PJN. 2019. Anomalous lanugo coat colourations in sub‑Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups born on Marion Island. Polar Biology 42: 1053-1057

Harcourt R, Sequeira AMM, Zhang X, Roquet F, Komatsu K, Heupel M, McMahon C, Whoriskey F, Meekan M, Carroll G, Brodie S, Simpfendorfer C, Hindell M, Jonsen I, Costa DP, Block B, Muelbert M, Woodward B, Weise M, Aarestrup K, Biuw M, Boehme L, Bograd SJ, Cazau D, Charrassin J, Cooke SJ, Cowley P, de Bruyn PJN et al. 2019. Animal-Borne Telemetry: an integral component of the ocean observing toolkit. Frontiers in Marine Science 6: 326

Hays GC, Bailey H, Bograd SJ, Bowen WD, Campagna C, Carmichael RH, Casale P, Chiaradia A, Costa DP, Cuevas E, De Bruyn PJN et al. 2019. Translating marine animal tracking data into conservation policy and management. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 34: 459-473

Jepsen EM, de Bruyn PJN. 2019. Pinniped entanglement in oceanic plastic pollution: A global review. Marine Pollution Bulletin 145: 295-305

Jones CW, Risi MM, Osborne A, Bester MN. 2019. First record of a leucistic sub-Antarctic fur seal. Polar Biology 42: 1217-1220

Oosthuizen WC, Postma M, Altwegg R, Nevoux M, Pradel R, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2019. Individual heterogeneity in life‐history trade‐offs with age at first reproduction in capital breeding elephant seals. Population Ecology 61: 421– 435. https://doi.org/10.1002/1438-390X.12015

Oosthuizen WC, Pradel R, Bester MN, De Bruyn PJN. 2019. Making use of multiple surveys: Estimating breeding probability using a multievent‐robust design capture–recapture model. Ecology and Evolution 9: 836-848

Wege M, de Bruyn PJN, Hindell MA, Lea MA, Bester MN. 2019. Preferred, small-scale foraging areas of two Southern Ocean fur seal species are not determined by habitat characteristics. BMC Ecology 19: 36. doi: 10.1186/s12898-019-0252-x

2018

Arthur B, Hindell M, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN, Goebel M, Trathan P, Lea M-A. 2018. Managing for change: Using vertebrate at sea habitat use to direct management efforts. Ecological Indicators 91: 338-349

Hoffman JI, Bauer E, Paijmans AJ, Humble E, Beckmann LM, Kubetschek C, Christaller F, Krocker N, Fuchs B, Moreras A, Shihlomule YD, Bester MN, Cleary AC, De Bruyn PJN, Forcada J, Goebel ME, Goldsworthy SD, Guinet C, Hoelzel AR, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM, Lowther A. 2018. A global cline in a colour polymorphism suggests a limited contribution of gene flow towards the recovery of a heavily exploited marine mammal. Royal Society Open Science 5: 181227

Oosthuizen WC, Altwegg R, Nevoux M, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2018. Phenotypic selection and covariation in the life-history traits of elephant seals: heavier offspring gain a double selective advantage. Oikos 127: 875-889

Reisinger RR, Landman M, Mgibantaka N, Smale MJ, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN, Pistorius, PA. 2018. Overlap and temporal variation in the diets of sympatric Antarctic and Subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) at Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands. Polar Research 37: 1

Reisinger RR, Raymond B, Hindell MA, Bester MN, Crawford RJM, Davies D, de Bruyn PJN, Dilley BJ, Kirkman SP, Makhado AB, Ryan PG, Schoombie S, Stevens K, Sumner MD, Tosh CA, Wege M, Whitehead TO, Wotherspoon S, Pistorius P. 2018. Habitat modelling of tracking data from multiple marine top predators identifies important areas in the Southern Indian Ocean. Diversity and Distributions 24: 535-550

Travers T, van den Hoff J, Lea M-A, Carylon K, Reisinger R, De Bruyn PJN, Morrice M. 2018. Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Polar Biology 41: 2249-2259

Tucker MA, Böhning-Gease K, Fagan WF, Fryxell JM, Van Mooter B, Alberts SC, Ali AH, Allen AM, Attias N, Avgar T, Bartlam-Brooks H, Bayarbaatar B, Belant JL, Bertassoni A, Beyer D, Bidner L, van Beest FM, Blake S, Blaum N, Bracis C, Brown D, de Bruyn PJN et al. 2018. Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements. Science 359: 466-469

 

2017

Ansorge IJ, Skelton P, Bekker A, de Bruyn PJN, Butterworth D, Cilliers P et al. 2017. Exploring South Africa's southern frontier: A 20-year vision for polar research through the South African National Antarctic Programme. South African Journal of Science 113: 1-7

Arthur B, Hindell M, Bester M, de Bruyn PJN, Trathan P, Goebel M, Lea M-A. 2017. Winter habitat predictions of a key Southern Ocean predator, the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella). Deep-Sea Research II 140: 171-181

Lubcker N, Reisinger RR, Oosthuizen C, de Bruyn PJN, van Tonder A, Pistorius PA, Bester MN. 2017. Low trophic level diet of juvenile southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina from Marion Island: a stable isotope investigation using vibrissal regrowths. Marine Ecology Progress Series 577: 237-250

McIntyre T, Bester MN, Bornemann H, Tosh CA, de Bruyn PJN. 2017. Slow to change? Individual fidelity to three-dimensional foraging habitats in southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina. Animal Behaviour 127: 91-99

Treasure AM, Roquet F, Ansorge IJ, Bester MN, Boehme L, Bornemann H, Charrassin J-B, Chevallier D, Costa DP, Fedak MA, Guinet C, Hammill MO, Harcourt RG, Hindell MA, Kovacs KM, Lea M-A, Lovell P, Lowther AD, Lydersen C, McIntyre T, McMahon CR, Muelbert MMC, Nicholls K, Picard B, Reverdin G, Trites AW, Williams GD, de Bruyn PJN. 2017. Marine mammals exploring the oceans pole to pole: a review of the MEOP consortium. Oceanography 30: 132-139

Reisinger RR, Beukes (nee Janse van Rensburg) C, Hoezel AR, de Bruyn PJN. 2017. Kinship and association in a highly social apex predator population, killer whales at Marion Island. Behavioral Ecology 28: 750-759

2016

de Bruyn PJN. 2016. Debate over whale longevity is futile. Nature 533: 36

Hindell MA, McMahon CR, Bester MN, Boehme L, Costa D, Fedak MA, Guinet C, Herraiz-Borreguero L, Harcourt RG, Huckstadt L, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, McIntyre T, Muelbert M, Patterson T, Roquet F, Williams G, Charrassin J-B. 2016. Circumpolar habitat use in the southern elephant seal: implications for foraging success and population trajectories. Ecosphere 7: e01213

Lubcker N, Condit R, Beltran RS, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2016. Vibrissal growth parameters of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina: obtaining fine-scale, time-based stable isotope data. Marine Ecology Progress Series 559: 243-255

Massie PP, McIntyre T, Ryan PG, Bester MN, Bornemann H, Ansorge IJ. 2016. The role of eddies in the diving behaviour of female southern elephant seals. Polar Biology 39: 297-307

Moshobane MC, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2016. Assessing 3D photogrammetry techniques in craniometrics. International Archives of the International Society for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Science - ISPRS Archives 41: 267-273

Niemandt C, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Dyer BM, Isaksen K, Hofmeyr GJG, Mehlum F, de Bruyn PJN. 2016. Chinstrap and Macaroni penguin diet and demography at Nyroysa, Bouvetoya. Antarctic Science 28: 91-100

Oosthuizen WC, de Bruyn PJN, Wege M, Bester MN. 2016. Geographic variation in subantarctic fur seal pup growth: linkages with environmental variability and population density. Journal of Mammalogy 97: 347-360

Reisinger RR, Grocke DR, Lubcker N, McClymont EL, Hoelzel AR, de Bruyn PJN. 2016. Variation in the diet of killer whales Orcinus orca at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 549: 263-274

Ryan PG, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2016. Regional differences in plastic ingestion among Southern Ocean fur seals and albatrosses. Marine Pollution Bulletin 104: 207-210.

Wege M, Etienne MP, Oosthuizen WC, Reisinger RR, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2016. Trend changes in sympatric Subantarctic and Antarctic fur seal pup populations at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. Marine Mammal Science 32: 960-982

Wege M, Tosh CA, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2016. Cross-seasonal foraging site fidelity of subantarctic fur seals: implications for marine conservation areas. Marine Ecology Progress Series 554: 225-239

 

2015

Arthur B, Hindell M, Bester MN, Trathan P, Jonsen I, Staniland I, Oosthuizen WC, Wege M, Lea MA. 2015. Return customers: foraging site fidelity and the effect of environmental variability in wide-ranging Antarctic fur seals. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0120888. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120888

Beeton NJ, McMahon CR, Williamson GJ, Potts J, Bloomer J, Bester MN, Forbes LK, Johnson CN. 2015. Using the Spatial Population Abundance Dynamics Engine for conservation management. Methods in Ecology & Evolution. doi: 10.1111/2014-210X.12434

Biermann L, Guinet C, Bester MN, Brierley A & Boehme L. 2015. An alternative method for correcting fluorescence quenching. Ocean Science 11: 83-91.

Haddad WA, Reisinger RR, Scott T, Bester MN & De Bruyn PJN. 2015. Multiple occurrences of king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) sexual harassment by Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). Polar Biology 38(5): 741-746.

Lowther AD, Ahonen H, Hofmeyr GJG, Oosthuizen WC, de Bruyn PJN, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM. 2015. Reliability of VHF telemetry data for measuring attendance patterns of marine predators: a comparison with time depth recorder data. Marine Ecology Progress Series 538: 249-256

McIntyre T. 2015. Animal telemetry: Tagging effects. Science 349: 596-597.

McIntyre T, Donaldson A, Bester MN. 2015. Spatial and temporal patterns of changes in condition of southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Antarctic Science 28: 81-90

Moura AE, Kenny JG, Chaudhuri RR, Hughes MA, Reisinger RRde Bruyn PJN, Dahlheim ME, Hall N, Hoelzel AR. 2015. Phylogenomics of the killer whale indicates ecotype divergence in sympatry Heredity.  114: 48-55 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2014.67

Oosthuizen WC, Bester MN, Altwegg R, McIntyre T, de Bruyn PJN. 2015. Decomposing the variance in southern elephant seal weaning mass: partitioning environmental signals and maternal effects. Ecosphere 6(8) art 39.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00508.1

Reisinger RR, Keith M, Andrews RD, de Bruyn PJN. 2015. Movement and diving of killer whales (Orcinus orca) at a Southern Ocean archipelago. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 473: 90-102

Tosh CA, de Bruyn PJN, Steyn J, Bornemann H, van den Hoff J, Stewart BS, Plotz J, Bester MN. 2015. The importance of seasonal sea surface height anomalies for foraging juvenile southern elephant seals. Marine Biology 162: 2131-2140

Van der Vyver JSF, de Bruyn PJN, Lipinski MR, Leslie RW. 2015. First record of a porbeagle shark Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre, 1788) stranding at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Marine Biodiversity Records 8: e67

Wege M, Nevoux M, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2015. Multi-state mark-recapture models as a novel approach to estimate factors affecting attendance patterns of lactating Subantarctic fur seals from Marion Island. Antarctic Science. 27: 252-262.

Wege M, Postma M, Tosh CA, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2015. First confirmed record of a leucistic Antarctic fur seal pup born outside the Scotia Arc Islands. Polar Biology. 38: 569-571.

2014

Bester MN, Ryan PG, Bester WA & Glass T. 2014. Vagrant Antarctic fur seals at the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Polar Biology 37: 1701–1703.

Blanchet M-A, Lydersen C, Biuw M, de Bruyn PJN, Hofmeyr GJG, Krafft BA, Kovacs KM. 2014. Instrumentation and handling effects on Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). Polar Research 33:1-10.

Lowther, A.D., Lydersen, C., Biuw, M., de Bruyn, P.J.N., Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Kovacs, K.M. (2014) Post-breeding at-sea movements of three central-place foragers in relation to submesoscale fronts in the Southern Ocean around Bouvetoya. Antarctic Science 26(5):533-544.

McIntyre T. 2014. Trends in tagging of marine mammals: a review of marine mammal biologging studies. African Journal of Marine Science 36(4): 409-422

McIntyre T, Bornemann H, de Bruyn PJN, Reisinger RR, Steinhage D, Marquez MEI, Bester MN, Plotz J. 2014. Environmental influences on at-sea behaviour of a major consumer, Mirounga leonina, in a rapidly changing environment. Polar Research 33: 23808

Moura AE, Kenny JG, Chaudhuri RR, Hughes MA, Welch AJ, Reisinger RRde Bruyn PJN, Dahlheim ME, Hall N, Hoelzel AR. 2014. Population genomics of the killer whale indicates ecotype evolution in sympatry involving both selection and drift. Molecular Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/mec.12929

Moura AE, Janse van Rensburg C, Pilot M, Tehrani A, Best PB, Thornton M, Plön S, de Bruyn PJN, Worley KC, Gibbs RA, Dahlheim ME, Hoelzel AR. 2014. Killer whale nuclear genome and mtDNA reveal widespread population bottleneck during the last glacial maximum. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 31(5): 1121-1131.
 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu058

 Reisinger RR, Oosthuizen WC, Péron G, Cory Toussaint D, Andrews RD, de Bruyn PJN. 2014. Satellite tagging and biopsy sampling of killer whales at Subantarctic Marion Island: effectiveness, immediate reactions and long-term responses. PLOS One 9(11): e111835. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111835

Roquet F, Wunch C, Forget G, Heimbach P, Guinet G, Reverdin G, Charrassin B, Bailleul F, Costa DP, Huckstadt LA, Goetz, KT, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Nøst OA, BORNEMANN H, Plötz J, Bester MN, McIntyre T, Muelbert MC, Hindell MA, Williams G, Harcourt R, Field IC, McMahon CR, Nicholls KW, Chafik L, Biuw M,  Boehme L, & Fedak MA. 2014. Estimates of the Southern Ocean General Circulation Improved by Animal-Borne Instruments. Geophysical Research Letters 40: 6176-6180.

2013

Blanchet MA, Biuw M, Hofmeyr GJG, de Bruyn PJN, Lydersen C, Kovacs KM. 2013. At-sea behaviour of three krill predators breeding at Bouvetøya - Antarctic fur seals, macaroni penguins and chinstrap penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 477:285-302.

Bornemann H, de Bruyn PJN, Reisinger RR, Kästner S, Márquez MEI, McIntyre T, Bester MN, Plötz J. 2013. Tiletamine/zolazepam immobilization of adult post-moult southern elephant seal males. Polar Biology 36: 1687-1692.

de Bruyn PJN. 2013. Antarctica: Riding shutdowns in developing world. Nature 503: 198.

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Terauds A. 2013. Killer whale ecotypes: is there a global model? Biological Reviews 88(1): 62-80.DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2012.00239.x

Haussmann NS, Rudolph EM, Kalwij JM, McIntyre T. 2013. Fur seal populations facilitate establishment of exotic vascular plants. Biological Conservation. 162: 33-40.

Makhado AB, Bester MN, Somhlaba S & Crawford RJM. 2013. The diet of the Subantarctic fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis at Marion Island. Polar Biology 36(11): 1609-1617.

McIntyre T, Stansfield LJ, Bornemann H, Plötz J, Bester MN. 2013. Hydrographic influences on the summer dive behaviour of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Atka Bay, Antarctica. Polar Biology. 36: 1693-1700.

Penry GS, Baartman AC & Bester MN. 2013. Vagrant elephant seal predation on Cape fur seal pups, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Polar Biology 36: 1381-1383.

Postma M, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2013. Spatial variation in female southern elephant seal mass change assessed by an accurate non-invasive photogrammetry method. Antarctic Science 25: 731-740.

Postma M, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2013. Age-related reproductive variation in a wild marine mammal population. Polar Biology 36: 719-729.

Roquet F, Wunsch C, Forget G, Heimbach P, Guinet C, Reverdin G, Charrassin J-B, Bailleul F, Costa DP, Huckstadt LA, Goetz KT, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Biuw M, Nøst OA, Bornemann H, Ploetz J, Bester MN, McIntyre T, Muelbert MC, Hindell MA, McMahon CR, Williams G, Harcourt R, Field IC, Chafik L, Nicholls KW, Boehme L & Fedak MA. 2013. Estimates of the Southern Ocean general circulation improved by animal-borne instruments. Geophysical Research Letters 40: 6176–6180.

Treasure, AM, Moloney CL, Bester MN, McQuaid CD, Findlay KP, Best PB, Cowan DA, de Bruyn PJN, et al. 2013. South African research in the Southern Ocean: new opportunities but serious challenges. South African Journal of Science 109: 1-4.

Vinding K, Christiansen M, Hofmeyr GJG, Chivell W, McBride R & Bester MN. 2013. Occurrence of vagrant leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx, along the South African coast. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 43(1): 84–86.

 

2012

Field IC, Harcourt RG, Boehme L, de Bruyn PJN, Charrassin JB, McMahon CR, Bester MN, Fedak MA, Hindell MA. 2012. Refining instrument attachment on phocid seals. Marine Mammal Science. 28: 325-332.

Hofmeyr GJG, Kirkman SP, Pistorius PA, Bester MN. 2012. Natal site fidelity by breeding female southern elephant seals in relation to their history of participation in the winter haulout. African Journal of Marine Science. 34: 373-382.

James B, McIntyre T, Tosh CA, Bornemann H, Plotz J, Bester MN. 2012. Inter-population differences in diving behaviour of adult male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). Polar Biology. 35: 1759–1766. DOI: 10.1007/s00300:1-8.

McIntyre, T., Ansorge, I.J., Bornemann, H., Plötz, J., Tosh, C.A. & Bester, M.N. 2012. Elephant seal foraging dives do indeed track prey distribution, but temperature influences the distribution of prey: Reply to Boersch-Supan et al. (2012). Marine Ecology Progress Series 461: 299-303

McIntyre, T., Bornemann, H., Plötz, J., Tosh,C.A. & Bester, M.N. 2012. Deep divers in even deeper seas: habitat use of male southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Antarctic Science 24(6): 561-570.

Oosthuizen, WC, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2012. Unmarked individuals in mark-recapture studies: comparisons of marked and unmarked southern elephant seals at Marion Island. Austral Ecology 37:556-568 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02316.x

Pistorius PA, Meÿer MA, Reisinger RR, Kirkman SP. 2012. Killer whale predation on subantarctic fur seals at Prince Edward Island, Southern Indian Ocean. Polar Biology 35(11): 1767-1772. DOI: 10.1007/s00300-012-1216-1

Tosh CA, Steyn J, Bornemann H, Van den Hoff J, Stewart BS, Plotz J, Bester MN. 2012. Marine habitats of juvenile southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Aquatic Biology. 17:71-79.

 

2011

Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN, Oosthuizen WC, Tosh CA, McIntyre T, Reisinger RR, Postma M, van der Merwe DS, Wege M. 2011. The marine mammal programme at the Prince Edward Islands: 38 years of research. African Journal of Marine Science 33(3): 511-521. DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2011.637356

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Bester MN, Cameron EZ, McIntyre T, Wilkinson IS. 2011. Sex at sea: alternative mating system in an extremely polygynous mammal. Animal Behaviour 82: 445–451.

McIntyre T, Bornemann H, Plötz J, Tosh CA, Bester MN. 2011. Water column use and forage strategies of female southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Marine Biology 158: 2125–2139.

McIntyre T, Ansorge IJ, Bornemann H, Plötz J, Tosh CA, Bester MN 2011. Elephant seal dive behaviour is influenced by ocean temperature: implications for climate change impacts on an ocean predator. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 441: 257-272.

McIntyre T, Postma M, Wege M, Van der Merwe DS, Bester MN 2011. Hitchhiking goose barnacles and their potential implications on the functioning of animal-borne instruments. South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 41: 218-223.

Oosthuizen, WC, Bester, MN, Tosh, CA, Guinet, C, Besson, D & de Bruyn PJN. 2011. Dispersal and dispersion of southern elephant seals in the Kerguelen Province, Southern Ocean. Antarctic Science 23: 567-577. DOI:10.1017/S0954102011000447

Pistorius PA, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2011. Population dynamics of southern elephant seals: a synthesis of three decades of demographic research at Marion Island. In: Kirkman SP, Elwen SH, Pistorius PA, Thornton M, Weir CR (eds), Conservation biology of marine mammals in the southern African subregion. African Journal of Marine Science 33: 523–534.

Postma M, Wege M, van der Merwe DS, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. 2011. Inshore occurrence of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) at Subantarctic Marion Island. African Zoology 46: 188–193.

Reisinger RR, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2011. Predatory impact of killer whales on pinniped and penguin populations at the Subantarctic Prince Edward Islands: fact and fiction. Journal of Zoology. 285(1): 1-10. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00815.x

Reisinger RR, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2011. Abundance estimates of killer whales at subantarctic Marion Island. Aquatic Biology. 12(2): 177-185. DOI: 10.3354/ab00340

Reisinger RR, de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Oosthuizen WC, Mufanadzo NT, Bester MN. 2011. Prey and seasonal abundance of killer whales at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. African Journal of Marine Science. 33(1): 99-105. DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2011.572356

Wege M, Bester MN, van der Merwe DS, Postma M. 2011. Oedipus complex in an Antarctic fur seal pup? Journal of Ethology 29: 505–507.

 

2010

de Bruyn PJN, Cameron EZ, Tosh CA, Oosthuizen WC, Reisinger RR, Mufanadzo NT, Phalanndwa MV, Postma M, Wege M, van der Merwe DS, Bester MN. 2010. Prevalence of allosuckling behaviour in Subantarctic fur seal pups. Mammalian Biology 75: 555–560.

McIntyre T, de Bruyn PJN, Ansorge IJ, Bester MN, Bornemann H, Plötz J, Tosh CA. 2010. A lifetime at depth: vertical distribution of southern elephant seals in the water column. Polar Biology 33: 1037–1048.

McIntyre T, Tosh CA, Bornemann H, Plötz J, Bester MN. 2010. Segregation in a sexually dimorphic mammal: a mixed-effects modelling analysis of diving behaviour in southern elephant seals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 412: 293–304.

Naito, Y., Bornemann, H., Takahashi, A., McIntyre, T. & Plötz, J. 2010. Fine-scale feeding behavior of Weddell seals revealed by a mandible accelerometer. Polar Science 4: 309-316

Oosthuizen, WC, de Bruyn PJN, Bester, MN & Girondot, M. 2010. Cohort and tag-site-specific tag-loss rates in mark–recapture studies: A southern elephant seal cautionary case. Marine Mammal Science 26: 350-369 DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2009.00328.x

Plötz J, McIntyre T, Takahashi A, Naito Y, Bornemann H. 2010. Fine-scale feeding behavior of Weddell seals revealed by a mandible accelerometer. Polar Science. 4: 309-316.

Reisinger RR, Bester MN. 2010. Long distance breeding dispersal of a southern elephant seal. Polar Biology 33: 1289–1291.

Reisinger RR, McIntyre T, Bester MN. 2010. Goose barnacles hitchhike on satellite-tracked southern elephant seals. Polar Biology 33: 561–564.

Reisinger RR, de Bruyn PJN, Pistorius PA, Bester MN. 2010. Antarctic fur seal predation on cephalopods at Marion Island. Polar Biology 33: 571–574.

 

2009

Bester MN, Ryan PG, Visagie J. 2009. Summer survey of fur seals at Prince Edward Island, southern Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 31: 451–455.

Cooper J, Bester MN, Chown SL, Crawford RJM, Daly R, Heyns E, Lamont T, Ryan PG, Shaw JD. 2009. Biological survey of the Prince Edward Islands, December 2008. South African Journal of Science 105: 317–320.

de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN, Carlini AR, Oosthuizen WC. 2009. How to weigh an elephant seal with one finger: a simple three-dimensional photogrammetric application. Aquatic Biology 5: 31–39.

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Oosthuizen WC, Bester MN, Arnould JPY. 2009. Bathymetry and frontal system interactions influence seasonal foraging movements of lactating subantarctic fur seals from Marion Island. Marine Ecology Progress Series 394: 263–276.

McMahon CR, Bester MN, Hindell MA, Brook BW, Bradshaw CJA. 2009. Shifting trends: detecting environmentally mediated regulation in long-lived marine vertebrates using time-series data. Oecologia 159: 69–82.

Oosthuizen, WC, Bester, MN, de Bruyn, PJN & Hofmeyr, GJG. 2009. Intra-archipelago moult dispersion of southern elephant seals at the Prince Edward Islands, southern Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 31: 457-462. DOI: 10.2989/AJMS.2009.31.3.20.1008

 Reisinger RR, Mufanadzo NF, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN. 2009. Leucistic southern elephant seal at Marion Island. Polar Biology 32: 509–511.

 

2008

Bester MN, de Clercq H, Hofmeyr GJG, de Bruyn PJN. 2008. Leucistic southern elephant seal at Marion Island? Polar Biology 31: 255–257.

de Bruyn PJN, Bastos ADS, Eadie C, Tosh CA, Bester MN. 2008. Mass mortality of adult male Subantarctic fur seals: are alien mice the culprits? PLoS ONE 3: e3757. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0003757.

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Bester MN. 2008. Sexual harassment of a king penguin by an Antarctic fur seal. Journal of Ethology 26:295–297.

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA, Oosthuizen WC, Phalanndwa MV, Bester MN. 2008. Temporary marking of unweaned southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina L.) pups. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 38: 133–137.

Ferreira JM, de Oliveira LR, Wynen L, Bester MN, Guinet C, Moreas-Barros N, Martins FM, Muelbert MMC, Moreno IB, Siciliano S, Ott PH, Morgante JS. 2008. Multiple origins of vagrant Subantarctic fur seals: a long journey to the Brazilian coast detected by molecular markers. Polar Biology 31: 303–308.

Makhado AB, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Pistorius PA, Ferguson JWH, Klages NTW. 2008. Prey of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Marion Island. Polar Biology 31: 575–581.

Mulaudzi TW, Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Pistorius PA, Jonker FC, Makhado AB, Owen JH, Grimbeek RJ. 2008. Haulout site selection by southern elephant seals at Marion Island. African Zoology 43: 25–33.

Pistorius PA, Taylor FE, Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG, Kirkman SP. 2008. Evidence for density dependent population regulation in southern elephant seals in the southern Indian Ocean. African Zoology 43: 75–80.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG, Kirkman SP, Taylor FE. 2008. Seasonal survival and the relative cost of first reproduction in adult female southern elephant seals in relation to population changes in the southern Indian Ocean. Journal of Mammalogy 89: 567–574.

Tosh CA, de Bruyn PJN, Bester MN.2008. Preliminary analysis of the social structure of killer whales, Orcinus orca, at subantarctic Marion Island. Marine Mammal Science 24(4): 929-940. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00233.x

 

2007

de Bruyn PJN, Pistorius PA, Tosh CA, Bester MN. 2007. Leucistic Antarctic fur seal at Marion Island. Polar Biology 30: 1355–1358.

Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN, Pistorius PA, Mulaudzi TW, de Bruyn PJN, Ramunasi AJ, Tshithabane NH, McIntyre T, Radzilani PM. 2007. Median pupping date, pup mortality and sex ratio of fur seals at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 37: 1–8.

Lombard AT, Reyers B, Schonegevel LY, Cooper J, Smith-Adao LB, Nel DC, Froneman PW, Ansorge IJ, Bester MN, Tosh CA, Strauss T, Akkers T, Gon O, Leslie RW, Chown SL. 2007. Conserving pattern and process in the Southern Ocean: designing a marine protected area for the Prince Edward Islands. Antarctic Science 19: 39–54.

 

2006

Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN, Makhado AB, Pistorius PA. 2006. Population changes in Subantarctic and Antarctic fur seals at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 36: 55–68.


2005

Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG. 2005. Numbers of elephant seals at Prince Edward Island, Southern Ocean. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 35: 85–88.

McMahon CR, Bester MN, Burton HR, Hindell MA, Bradshaw CJA. 2005. Population status, trends and a re-examination of the hypotheses explaining the recent declines of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina. Mammal Review 35: 82–100.

McMahon CR, Hindell MA, Burton HR, Bester MN. 2005. Comparison of southern elephant seal populations, and observations of a population on a demographic knife-edge. Marine Ecology Progress Series 288: 273–283.


2004

Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG, Jonker FC, Pistorius PA, Owen R, Strydom N. 2004. Variation in the timing of the breeding haulout of female southern elephant seals at Marion Island. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 379–388.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Lewis MN, Taylor FE, Campagna C, Kirkman SP. 2004. Adult female survival, population trend, and the implications of early primiparity in a capital breeder, the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). Journal of Zoology (London) 263: 107–119.

 

2003

Bester MN, Ryan PG, Dyer BM. 2003. Population numbers of fur seals at Prince Edward Island, Southern Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 25: 549–554.

Crawford RJM, Underhill LG, Bester MN, Cooper J, Greyling MD,Meyer MA, Petersen SL, Ryan PG, Wilkinson W. 2003. The Prince Edward Islands millennium expedition. South African Journal of Science 99: 407–409.

Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Makhado AB, Pistorius PA. 2003. Female attendance patterns of Antarctic fur seals at Marion Island. African Zoology 38: 402–405.

Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Pistorius PA, Hofmeyr GJG, Jonker FC, Owen R, Strydom N. 2003. Variation in the timing of moult in southern elephant seals at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 33: 79–84.

McMahon CR, Burton HR, Bester MN. 2003. A demographic comparison of two southern elephant seal populations. Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 61–74.

 

2002

Bradshaw CJA, McMahon CR, Hindell MA, Bester MN, Pistorius PA. 2002. Do southern elephant seals show density dependence in fecundity? Polar Biology 25: 650–655.

Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN. 2002. Entanglement of pinnipeds at Marion Island. South African Journal of Marine Science 24: 383–386.

Hofmeyr GJG, de Maine M, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Pistorius PA, Makhado AB. 2002. Entanglement of pinnipeds at Marion Island, Southern Ocean: 1991–2001. Australian Mammalogy 24: 141–146.

Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Hofmeyr GJG, Pistorius PA, Makhado AB. 2002. Pup growth and maternal attendance patterns in Subantarctic fur seals. African Zoology 37: 13–19.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN. 2002. Juvenile survival and population regulation in southern elephant seals at Marion Island. African Zoology 37: 35–41.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN. 2002. A longitudinal study of senescence in a pinniped. Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 395–401.

Pistorius PA, Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Taylor FE. 2002. Implications of the winter haulout for future survival and resighting probability of southern elephant seals at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 32: 59–63.

Pistorius PA, Taylor FE, Louw C, Hanise B, Bester MN, de Wet C, et al. 2002. Distribution, movement, and estimated population size of killer whales at Marion Island, December 2000. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 32: 86–92.

 

 2001

Keith M, Bester MN, Bartlett PA, Baker D. 2001. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. African Zoology 36: 163–175.

Kirkman SP, Bester MN, Pistorius PA, Hofmeyr GJG, Owen R, Mecenero S. 2001. Participation in the winter haulout by southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina. Antarctic Science 13: 380–384.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Taylor FE. 2001. Temporal changes in fecundity and age at sexual maturity of southern elephant seals at Marion Island. Polar Biology 24: 343–348.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Taylor FE. 2001. Pup mortality in southern elephant seals at Marion Island. Polar Biology 24: 828–831.

St Clair Hill M, Ferguson JWH, Bester MN, Kerley GIH. 2001. Preliminary comparison of calls of the hybridising fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella. African Zoology 36: 45–53.

Wilkinson IS, van Aarde RJ. 2001. Investment in sons and daughters by southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina , at Marion Island. Marine Mammal Science 17: 873–887.

 

2000

Kerley GIH, Allen BR, Bester MN. 2000. Comparison of skull morphometrics of male Subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis) from Marion and Gough islands. African Zoology 35: 165–171.

McMahon CR, Burton HR, Bester MN. 2000. Weaning mass and the future survival of juvenile southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island. Antarctic Science 12: 149–153.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Kirkman SP, Boveng PL. 2000. Evaluation of age- and sex-dependent rates of tag loss in southern elephant seals. Journal of Wildlife Management 64: 373–380.

Wynen LP, Goldsworthy SD, Guinet C, Bester MN, Boyd IL, Gjertz I, Hofmeyr GJG, White RWG, Slade R. 2000. Post-sealing genetic variation and population structure of two species of fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella and A. tropicalis). Molecular Ecology 9: 299–314.

 

1999

Ferreira SM, Bester MN. 1999. Chemical immobilisation, physical restraint, and stomach lavaging of fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 29: 55–61.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Kirkman SP. 1999. Dynamic age distributions in a declining population of southern elephant seals. Antarctic Science 11: 446–451.

Pistorius PA, Bester MN, Kirkman SP. 1999. Survivorship of a declining population of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, in relation to age, sex and cohort. Oecologia 121: 201–211.

Wilkinson I, van Aarde RJ. 1999. Marion Island elephant seals: the paucity-of-males hypothesis tested. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77: 1547–1554.

 

Older Publications

Klages NTW, Bester MN. 1998. The fish prey of fur seals Arctocephalus spp. at subantarctic Marion Island. Marine Biology 131: 559–566.

Jonker FC, Bester MN. 1998. Seasonal movements and foraging areas of adult southern female elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, from Marion Island. Antarctic Science 10: 21–30.

Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN, Jonker FC. 1997. Changes in population sizes and distribution of fur seals at Marion Island. Polar Biology 17: 150–158.

Wilkinson IS, Bester MN. 1997. Tag-loss estimates for southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Marion Island. Antarctic Science 9: 162–167.

Bester MN, van Jaarsveld AS. 1994. Sex-specific and latitudinal variance in postnatal growth of the Subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 1126–1133.

Jonker FC, Bester MN. 1994. The diving behaviour of southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina , cows from Marion Island. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 24: 75–93.

Hofmeyr GJG. Bester MN. 1993. Predation on king penguins by Antarctic fur seals. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 23: 71–74.

Bester MN, Pansegrouw HM. 1992. Ranging behaviour of southern elephant seal cows from Marion Island. South African Journal of Science 88: 574–575.

Bester MN, Skinner JD. 1991. South African research on Antarctic seals. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 21: 165–166.

Bester MN, Bartlett PA. 1990. Attendance behaviour of Antarctic and Subantarctic fur seal females at Marion Island. Antarctic Science 2: 309–312.

Wilkinson IS, Bester MN. 1990. Duration of post-weaning fast and local dispersion in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, at Marion Island. Journal of Zoology (London) 222: 591–600.

Wilkinson IS, Bester MN. 1990. Continued population increase in fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella, at the Prince Edward Islands. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 20: 58–63.

Bester MN. 1989. Movements of southern elephant seals and Subantarctic fur seals in relation to Marion Island. Marine Mammal Science 5: 257–265.

Bester MN. 1989. Movements of southern elephant seals and Subantarctic fur seals in relation to Marion Island. Marine Mammal Science 5: 257–265.

Bester MN, Wilkinson IS. 1989. Field identification of Antarctic and Subantarctic fur seal pups. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 19: 140–144.

Kerley GIH. 1989. Electrophoretic transferrin variation in fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) at Marion Island. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B 92: 361–364.

Bester MN. 1988. Marking and monitoring studies of the Kerguelen stock of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina  and their bearing on biological research in the Vestfold Hills. Hydrobiologia 165: 269–277.

Bester MN. 1988. Chemical restraint of Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 18: 57–60.

Wilkinson IS, Bester MN. 1988. Is onshore human activity a factor in the decline of the southern elephant seal? South African Journal of Antarctic Research 18: 14–17.

Kerley GIH. 1985. Pup growth in the fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella on Marion Island. Journal of Zoology (London) 205: 315–324.

Bester MN. 1984. Status of the populations of the fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis and Arctocephalus gazella north of the Antarctic Convergence. South African Journal of Science 80:27–28.

Bester MN, Jouventin P. 1984. Rationale and strategy for a collaborative research programme between SASCAR and TAAF on pinnipeds inhabiting South Indian Ocean islands (the Kerguelen Province). South African Journal of Science 80: 32–33.

Condy PR. 1984. The population of southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina at Marion Island, 1973–1983. South African Journal of Science 80: 26–27.

Kerley GIH. 1984. Relationships between sympatric breeding populations of fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) at the Prince Edward Islands. South African Journal of Science 80: 28–30.

Panagis K. 1984. Influence of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina  on the coastal moulting areas of Marion Island. South African Journal of Science 80: 30.

Bester MN, Kerley GIH. 1983. Rearing of twin pups to weaning by Subantarctic fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis female. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 13: 86–87.

Kerley GIH. 1983. Record for the Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus from sub-Antarctic Marion Island. South African Journal of Zoology 18: 139–140.

Kerley GIH. 1983. Relative population sizes and trends, and hybridization of fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella at the Prince Edward Islands, Southern Ocean. South African Journal of Zoology 18: 388–392.

Kerley GIH. 1983. Comparison of seasonal haul-out patterns of fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis and A. gazella on subantarctic Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 13: 71–77.

Kerley GIH, Bester MN. 1983. A note on whole-mass corrections from piecemeal determinations for fur seals. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 13: 49–50.

Skinner JD, van Aarde RJ. 1983. Observations on the trend of the breeding population of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina, at Marion Island. Journal of Applied Ecology 20: 707–712.

Condy PR. 1981. Annual food consumption, and seasonal fluctuations in biomass of seals at Marion Island. Mammalia 45: 21–30.

Panagis K. 1981. Local movement of southern elephant seal pups Mirounga leonina (Linn.) at Marion Island. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 10/11: 28–31.

Condy PR, Green ED. 1980. The fur coat of the Amsterdam Island fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis. Journal of Zoology (London) 192: 85–96.

Condy PR. 1979. Annual cycle of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina (Linn.), at Marion Island. South African Journal of Zoology 14: 95–102.

Condy PR. 1978. The distribution and abundance of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina (Linn.) on the Prince Edward Islands. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 8: 42–48.

Condy PR, van Aarde RJ, Bester MN. 1978. The seasonal occurrence and behaviour of Killer whales Orcinus orca, at Marion Island. Journal of Zoology 184: 449–464.

Skinner JD, Condy PR, van Aarde RJ, Bester MN, Robinson TJ. 1978. The mammals of Marion Island: a review. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 8: 35–38.

DeVilliers AF, Ross GJB. 1976. Notes on numbers and distribution of fur seals, Arctocephalus tropicalis (Gray), on Marion and Prince Edward Islands, Southern Ocean. Journal of Mammalogy 57: 595–600.

Condy PR, Bester MN. 1975. Notes on the tagging of seals at Marion and Gough islands. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 5: 45–47.

Condy PR, Burger A. 1975. Southern right whale at Marion Island. South African Journal of Science 71: p 349.

Rand RW. 1962. Elephant seals on Marion Island. African Wildlife 16: 191–198.

Rand RW. 1955. Marion Island – home of South Africa’s elephant seal. African Wildlife 9: 7–9.

Rand RW. 1956. Notes on the Marion Island fur seal. Proceedings of the Royal Society (London) 126: 65–82.

 

Book Chapters

Bester MN. 2013. Marine Mammals: Natural and Anthropogenic Influences. In: Freedman B. (Ed.) Global Environmental Change: SpringerReference (www.springerreference.com). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2013.

Bester MN, Odendaal PN. 2013 Family Phocidae, True Seals. In Kingdon J. & Hoffmann M. (eds) 2013. Mammals of Africa: Vol V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Bloomsbury Publishing, London: pp. 132-133.

Odendaal PN, Bester MN. 2013. Superfamily Pinnipedia, Seals. In Kingdon, J. & Hoffmann, M. (eds) 2013. Mammals of Africa: Vol V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Bloomsbury Publishing, London: pp. 126.

Odendaal PN, Bester MN. 2013. Family Otariidae, Fur Seals. In Kingdon, J. & Hoffmann, M. (eds) 2013. Mammals of Africa: Vol V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Bloomsbury Publishing, London: pp. 126-127.

Ryan PG, Bester MN. 2008. Pelagic predators. In: Chown SL, Froneman PW (eds), The Prince Edward Islands: land-sea interactions in a changing ecosystem. Stellenbosch: Sun Media. pp 121–164.

Bester MN, van Jaarsveld AS. 1997. Growth in Subantarctic fur seal pups as a possible indicator of offshore food availability. In: Hindell M, Kemper CS (eds), Marine mammal research in the Southern Hemisphere. Vol. 1. Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty and Sons. pp 88–91.

Burton HR, Arnbom T, Boyd IL, Bester MN, Vergani D, Wilkinson I. 1997. Significant differences in weaning mass of southern elephant seals from five sub-Antarctic islands in relation to population declines. In: Battaglia B, Valencia J, Walton DWH (eds), Antarctic communities: species, structure and survival. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp 335–338.

Bester MN, Wilkinson IS. 1994. Population ecology of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina  at Marion Island. In: Le Boeuf BJ, Laws RM (eds), Elephant seals, population ecology, behavior, and physiology. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp 85–97.

Erickson AW, Bester MN. 1993. Immobilization and capture. In: Laws RM (ed.), Antarctic seals: research methods and techniques. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp 46–88.

Erickson AW, Bester MN, Laws RM. 1993. Marking techniques. In: Laws RM (ed.), Antarctic seals: research methods and techniques. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp 89–118.

Panagis K. 1985. The influence of elephant seals on the terrestrial ecosystem at Marion Island. In: Siegfried WR, Condy PR, Laws RM (eds), Antarctic nutrient cycles and foodwebs. Berlin: Springer. pp 173–179.

 

Proceedings and Reports

Gutt J, Adams B, Bracegirdle T, Cowan D, Cummings V, di Prisco G, Gradinger R, Isla E, McIntyre T, Murphy E. et al. 2013. Antarctic Thresholds – Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation: a new SCAR-Biology Programme Polarforschung 82: 147-150.

Southwell C, Bengtson J, Bester MN, Blix AS, Bornemann H, Boveng P, Cameron M, Forcada J, Laake J, Nordoy E. et al. 2012. A review of data on abundance, trends in abundance, habitat use and diet of ice-breeding seals in the Southern Ocean. CCAMLR Science. 19: 01-49.

Bester MN, Keith M, Pistorius PA. 2002. Killer whales at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. In: Fourth International Orca Symposium and Workshop, 23–28 September 2002, CEBC-CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France. pp 35–39.

Kerley GIH. 1987. Arctocephalus tropicalis on the Prince Edward Islands. In: Croxall JP, Gentry RL (eds), Status, biology, and ecology of fur seals: proceedings of an international symposium and workshop, Cambridge, England, 23–27 April 1984. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 51. Seattle, Washington: NOAA. pp 61–64.

Kerley GIH, Robinson T. 1987. Skull morphometrics of male Antarctic and Subantarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella and A. tropicalis, and their interspecific hybrids. In: Croxall J P, Gentry R L (eds), Status, biology and ecology of fur seals: proceedings of an international symposium and workshop, Cambridge, England, 23–27 April 1984. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 51.Seattle, Washington: NOAA. pp 121–131.

Roux J-P. 1987. Recolonization processes in the sub-Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Amsterdam Island. In: Croxall JP, Gentry RL (eds), Status, biology and ecology of fur seals: proceedings of an international symposium and workshop, Cambridge, England, 23–27 April 1984. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 51. Seattle, Washington: NOAA. pp 189–194.

Bester MN, Laycock PA. 1985. Cephalopod prey of the sub-Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, at Gough Island. In: Siegfried WR, Condy P, Laws RM (eds), Proceedings of the IVth SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp 551–554.

Bester MN. 1983. Motivation for satellite tracking of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina  at sea. In: Proceedings of the VIIIth Argos Users’ Conference London, September 1983: pp 216–227.


Popular Scientific Articles

Tosh CA, Bester MN. 2013. High in the food chain - seals in the Southern Ocean. Quest. 9:  50-53.

Ayerst F, Bester MN. 2009. Marion Island: seal superheroes. Beyond Blue January2009(2).

de Bruyn PJN, Tosh CA. 2006. Head hunting in the Southern Ocean. Africa Geographic November 2006. 29-34