Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T03:03:08.005Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A preliminary assessment of the impact of disturbance and handling on Weddell seals of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2009

J.E. Mellish*
Affiliation:
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA Alaska SeaLife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, PO Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA
A.G. Hindle
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 Oregon State University, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
M. Horning
Affiliation:
Oregon State University, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA

Abstract

There has been growing concern over the impact of increased human disturbance and research effects on Antarctic species. The Weddell seal of McMurdo Sound in particular has been used as a model species for over four decades of research, with some individuals handled multiple times over a single season. Using opportunistic data, we performed an assessment of blood indicators in adult males (n = 26) and adult females (n = 24) based on high versus low disturbance areas, with results showing no variation in overall seal health. In addition, we performed a preliminary analysis of blood and faecal indicators of inflammation and stress collected from adult, non-lactating females (n = 13) handled twice in less than two weeks for research purposes. There was no indication of a change in white blood cells, platelets, globulins or haptoglobins, or faecal corticosteroids (all P > 0.05). While based on a small, opportunistic sample size with limited power in some cases, preliminary results indicate there is no acute impact of repeated handling or difference in overall traffic level on adult Weddell seals.

Type
Biological Sciences
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baker, J.D. Johanos, T.C. 2002. Effects of research handling on the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Marine Mammal Science, 18, 500512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Born, E., Riget, F., Dietz, R. Andriashek, D. 1999. Escape responses of hauled out ringed seals to aircraft disturbance. Polar Biology, 21, 171178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cameron, M. Siniff, D. 2004. Age-specific survival, abundance, and immigration rates of a Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) population in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 82, 601615.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cameron, M., Siniff, D., Proffitt, K. Garrott, R. 2007. Site-fidelity in Weddell seals: the effects of age and sex. Antarctic Science, 19, 149155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engelhard, G.H., Hall, A.J., Brasseur, S.M.J.M. Reijnders, P. 2002c. Blood chemistry in southern elephant seal mothers and pups during lactation reveals no effects of handling. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, A133, 367378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engelhard, G.H., Baarspul, A.N.J., Broekman, M., Creuwels, J.C.S. Reijnders, P.J.H. 2002a. Human disturbance, nursing behaviour, and lacational pup growth in a declining southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) population. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80, 18761886.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engelhard, G.H., Brasseur, S.M.J.M., Hall, A.J., Burton, H.R. Reijnders, P.J.H. 2002b. Adrenocortical responsiveness in southern elephant seal mothers and pups during lactation and the effect of scientific handling. Journal of Comparative Physiology, B172, 315328.Google Scholar
Fletcher, Q.E. Boonstra, R. 2006. Impact of live trapping on the stress response of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Journal of Zoology, 270, 473478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groenink, L., Vandergugten, J., Zethof, T., Vanderheyden, J. Olivier, B. 1994. Stress-induced hyperthermia in mice - hormonal correlates. Physiology and Behavior, 56, 747749.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hindle, A.G., Horning, M., Mellish, J.E. Lawler, J.M. 2009. Diving into old age: muscular senescence in a large-bodied, long-lived mammal, the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii). Journal of Experimental Biology, 212, 790796.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lander, M.E., Westgate, A.J., Bonde, R.K. Murray, M.J. 2001. Tagging and tracking. In Dierauf, L.A. & Gulland, F.A., eds. Handbook of marine mammal medicine. New York, NY: CRC Press, 851880.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Littnan, C.L., Baker, J.D., Parrish, F.A. Marshall, G.J. 2004. Effects of video camera attachment on the foraging behavior of immature Hawaiian monk seals. Marine Mammal Science, 20, 345352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMahon, C.R., van den Hoff, J. Burton, H.R. 2005. Handling intensity and the short- and long-term survival of elephant seals: addressing and quantifying research effects on wild animals. Ambio, 34, 426429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMahon, C.R., Field, I.C., Bradshaw, C.J.A., White, G.C. Hindell, M.A. 2008. Tracking and data-logging devices attached to elephant seals do not affect individual mass gain or survival. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 360, 7177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellish, J., Tuomi, P., Hindle, A. Horning, M. In press. Chemical immobilization of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) by ketamine midazolam combination. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.Google Scholar
Mellish, J., Horning, M. York, A. 2007a. Seasonal and spatial blubber depth changes in captive harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller’s sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Journal of Mammalogy, 88, 408411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellish, J., Thomton, J. Horning, M. 2007c. Physiological and behavioral response to intra-abdominal transmitter implantation in Steller sea lions. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 351, 283293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellish, J., Hennen, D., Thomton, J., Petrauskas, L., Atkinson, S. Calkins, D. 2007b. Physiological response to hot-branding in juvenile Steller sea lions. Wildlife Research, 34, 4347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oka, T., Oka, K. Hori, T. 2001. Mechanisms and mediators of psychological stress-induced rise in core temperature. Psychosomatic Medicine, 63, 476486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petrauskas, L., Atkinson, S., Gulland, F., Mellish, J. Horning, M. 2008. Monitoring glucocorticoid response to rehabilitation and research procedures in California and Steller sea lions. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 309, 7382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ponganis, P., Kooyman, G., Castellini, M., Ponganis, E. Ponganis, K. 1993. Muscle temperature and swim velocity profiles during diving in a Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii. Journal of Experimental Biology, 183, 341348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Proffitt, K., Garrott, R., Rotella, J. Wheatley, K. 2007. Environmental and senescent related variations in Weddell seal body mass: implications for age-specific reproductive performance. Oikos, 116, 16831690.Google Scholar
Siniff, D. 1991. An overview of the ecology of Antarctic seals. American Zoologist, 31, 143149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stirling, I. 1966. A technique for handling live seals. Journal of Mammalogy, 47, 543544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tin, T., Fleming, Z.L., Hughes, K.A., Ainley, D.G., Convey, P., Moreno, C.A., Pfeiffer, S., Scott, J. Snape, I. 2009. Impacts of local human activities on the Antarctic environment. Antarctic Science, 21, 333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomton, J. Mellish, J. 2007. Haptoglobin concentrations in free-range and temporarily captive juvenile Steller sea lions. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 43, 258261.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trevisi, E., Lombardelli, R., Minuti, A. Bertoni, G. 2007. Change of digesta passage rate in dairy cows after different acute stress situations. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 6, 377379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Polanen Petel, T., Giese, M., Wotherspoon, S. Hindell, M. 2007. The behavioural response of lactating Weddell seals to over-snow vehicles: a case study. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 85, 488496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Polanen Petel, T., Terhune, J., Hindell, M. Giese, M. 2006. An assessment of the audibility of sound from human transport by breeding Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii). Wildlife Research, 33, 275291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viswanathan, K. Dhabhar, F. 2005. Stress-induced enhancement of leukocyte trafficking into sites of surgery or immune activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102, 58085813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wheatley, K., Bradshaw, C., Davis, L., Harcourt, R. Hindell, M. 2006. Influence of maternal mass and condition on energy transfer in Weddell seals. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75, 724733.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wheatley, K., Bradshaw, C., Harcourt, R. Hindell, M. 2008. Feast or famine: evidence for mixed capital-income breeding strategies in Weddell seals. Oecologia, 155, 1120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williams, T., Fuiman, L., Horning, M. Davis, R. 2004. The cost of foraging by a marine predator, the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii: pricing by the stroke. Journal of Experimental Biology, 207, 973982.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, R.P. McMahon, C.R. 2006. Measuring devices on wild animals: what constitutes acceptable practice? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 4, 147154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar