The study suggests that improved access to food has triggered the earlier births
Harbour seals are giving birth to pups earlier each year as a result of changes to the marine ecosystem, a study has shown.
It said the mammals, also known as common seals, were being born 25 days earlier compared with 35 years ago.
Scientists suggested the removal of large fish species by fishing boats was allowing populations of smaller species - favoured by the seals - to thrive.
The findings appear in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.
HARBOUR SEALS IN DETAIL
- Scientific name: Phoca vitulina
- Habitat: coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas
- Appearance: brown, tan, or grey, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils
- Length: 1.85 metres (adults)
- Mass: 132kg
- Life expectancy: females (up to 35 years) outlive males (25 years)
- Behaviour: pups are able to swim and dive within hours of birth, and grow quickly on mothers' milk
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