Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40552101›Full record

ArticleEcology and evolution2025

Individual Specialization in a Generalist Apex Predator: The Leopard Seal.

Emily S Sperou, Douglas J Krause, Renato Borras-Chavez, Patrick Charapata, Daniel P Costa, Daniel E Crocker, Kerri J Smith, Bradley Thompson, Azana Best, Jaelyn Anderson and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ecology and evolution, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Emily S SperouDepartment of Biology Baylor University Waco Texas USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6040-706X
Douglas J KrauseAntarctic Marine Living Resources Program, Ecosystem Science Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries La Jolla California USA.
Renato Borras-ChavezDepartment of Biology Baylor University Waco Texas USA.
Patrick CharapataEnvironmental Fisheries Science Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Seattle Washington USA.
Daniel P CostaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA.
Daniel E CrockerDepartment of Biology Sonoma State University Rohnert Park California USA.
Kerri J SmithDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington North Carolina USA.
Bradley ThompsonDepartment of Statistical Science Baylor University Waco Texas USA.
Azana BestDepartment of Biology Baylor University Waco Texas USA.
Jaelyn AndersonDepartment of Biology Baylor University Waco Texas USA.
Michael E GoebelAntarctic Marine Living Resources Program, Ecosystem Science Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries La Jolla California USA.
Carolina A BoninDepartment of Biological Science Hampton University Hampton Virginia USA.
Sarah S KienleDepartment of Biology Baylor University Waco Texas USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Apex predators are typically considered dietary generalists, which often masks individual variability. However, individual specialization-consistent differences among individuals in resource use or ecological role-is common in apex predators. In some species, only a few specialized individuals can significantly impact prey populations. Leopard seals (

Indexed as

foraging strategiesindividual variationintraspecific competitionmarine mammalniche variationspecialist

Identifiers

PMID40552101
PMCPMC12184730

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.