DISPERSION AND SITE FIDELITY OF BREEDING MALE GREY SEALS (HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS) ON NORTH RONA, SCOTLAND

The daily locations of socially active male grey seals were recorded d uring three successive breeding seasons on North Rona (Outer Hebrides, Scotland). Areas of occupancy were defined for 38 individually identi fied males. Socially active males showed a high degree of site fidelit y, determined from the overlap of areas and distance moved by individu als between seasons. The degree of site fidelity displayed by individu als was not related to measures of individual mating success, dominanc e, date of arrival to the colony, length of stay al the colony or chan ges in these values between seasons. As both male and female.grey seal s display site fidelity on N. Rona, individual recognition of potentia l opponents and mates is possible. There is also potential for the pro duction of full sibling offspring in successive seasons.