Dear all, We are pleased to share our recent publication in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology: Arso Civil, M., Hague, E., Langley, I. et al. Allo-suckling occurrence and its effect on lactation and nursing duration in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Orkney, Scotland. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 75, 121 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-021-03051-y Abstract: Fostering and allo-suckling are widespread among pinnipeds, and several hypotheses have been formulated to explain their occurrence. Here, we describe the occurrence of allo-suckling in harbour seals from photo-identification data of females and pups in Orkney (Scotland) during the pupping seasons between 2016 and 2019. We used a generalised linear model framework to investigate the effect of allo-suckling on the duration of lactation (females) and of nursing period (pups). A generalised additive model framework was used to explore how the probability of allo-suckling varied throughout the pupping season, and with changes in mother-pup separation time. Allo-suckling was observed in 31 females, at higher rates (18-37% of lactating females and 18-47% of the pups every year) than those observed in other phocid populations, with 13 females allo-suckling in multiple years. The duration of the pups' nursing period was not affected by allo-suckling occurrence. However, females in mother-pup pairs where both mother and pup allo-suckled had longer lactation duration than when only the pup allo-suckled, or than in pairs where no allo-suckling was observed. The probability of allo-suckling increased during the pupping season and with increased mother-pup separation time. However, the proximate causes and the consequences on future reproductive output and pup survival remain unknown. Best wishes, Mònica Dr Mònica Arso Civil Senior Research Fellow Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews St Andrews, KY16 8LB Twitter: @monicaarso http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/contact/staffProfile.aspx?sunid=mac64 Harbour Seal Decline Project: https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/harbourseals/ Citizen Fins Project: https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/citizenfins/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland (SC013532)