Behavioural Response of Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) Pups in Captivity to Food-Related Chemical Cues.

The article focuses on the behavioral responses of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) pups in captivity to food-related chemical cues, specifically dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and salmon oil. The study investigates whether these pups can detect DMS, a chemical associated with prey, and how their behavior changes in response to it compared to a control. Results indicate that while the pups showed increased respiration rates and spent more time near salmon oil, they did not exhibit similar attraction to DMS, suggesting that DMS may not be innately recognized as a food cue. The findings highlight the importance of olfactory cues in the foraging strategies of harbour seals and suggest that further research is needed to understand the learning processes involved in their foraging behavior. [Extracted from the article]