This dataset compiles adult female mass data and offspring mass at birth and weaning if available.  Most of these data were collected as part of satellite tag recovery procedures (2004-onwards), others were collected as part of other studies which did not include end of molt (DepartWt) measurements (esp. pre-2004).  Each file includes a distinct set of data.


Header Explanations for file AdultFemale_Skipped:

animalID - unique animal ID assigned to each animal within the Costa lab resight database.  In a very few cases, animals were not entered into this database and therefore have no animalID.

BreedYear - the year of the breeding season (any breeding measurements taken in December are rounded up to the following year - the bulk of reproduction happens after Jan 1st, but a few animals give birth in the last two weeks of December).

Age - age of the female during the breeding season.

DepartWt - For satellite tagged females, mass in kg at departure from the colony at the end of the molt (calculated from the mass measured during the deployment procedure to account for additional time spent on shore fasting).

ArriveWt - Mass in kg of the female at arrival to the colony prior to giving birth, calculated from a measured adult mass (often during a satellite tag recovery), pup mass and age, and number of days spent on shore.

MassGain - For satellite tagged females, the mass gain in kg over their post-molt foraging trip.

MassGainRate - For satellite tagged females, the daily mass gain rate in kg/day over their post-molt foraging trip.

MassGainPct - For satellite tagged females, mass gain normalized to their departure mass.

TripLength - For satellite tagged females, the number of days spent at sea during their post-molt foraging trip.

HasPup - Binary indicator of whether or not a female had a pup during the breeding season.

Recovered - For satellite tagged females, binary indicator of whether an animal returned from the post-molt foraging trip



Headers for file PupMass_MomMass:

animalID - unique animal ID assigned to each animal within the Costa lab resight database.  In a very few cases, animals were not entered into this database and therefore have no animalID.

BreedYear - the year of the breeding season (any breeding measurements taken in December are rounded up to the following year - the bulk of reproduction happens after Jan 1st, but a few animals give birth in the last two weeks of December).

ArriveWt - Mass in kg of the female at arrival to the colony prior to giving birth, calculated from a measured adult mass (often during a satellite tag recovery), pup mass and age, and number of days spent on shore.

PupMass - Mass in kg of the pup at the time of weighing.

PupAge - Age of the pup in days at the time of weighing.

PupBirthMass - Pup mass in kg at birth, calculated from measured mass and age.

PupSex - Sex of the pup from visual observation during weighing.

WeanMass - Mass in kg of the pup at weaning.



Headers for file WeanMass_BirthMass_AdultMass:

animalID - unique animal ID assigned to each animal within the Costa lab resight database.  In a very few cases, animals were not entered into this database and therefore have no animalID.

BreedYear - the year of the breeding season (any breeding measurements taken in December are rounded up to the following year - the bulk of reproduction happens after Jan 1st, but a few animals give birth in the last two weeks of December).

Age - age of the female during the breeding season.

ArriveWt - Mass in kg of the female at arrival to the colony prior to giving birth, calculated from a measured adult mass (often during a satellite tag recovery), pup mass and age, and number of days spent on shore.

PupMass - Mass in kg of the pup at the time of weighing.

PupAge - Age of the pup in days at the time of weighing.

PupBirthMass - Pup mass in kg at birth, calculated from measured mass and age.

PupSex - Sex of the pup from visual observation during weighing.

WeanMass - Mass in kg of the pup at weaning.