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Related Experiment Videos

Ocean climate and seal condition.

Burney J Le Boeuf1, Daniel E Crocker

  • 1Institute of Marine Sciences, Department of Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA. leboeuf@ucsc.edu

BMC Biology
|March 30, 2005
PubMed
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Ocean warming negatively impacts northern elephant seal foraging success, leading to lower pup weaning weights. Seals are sensitive to ocean temperature changes affecting prey availability and maternal nutritional status.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Mammal Ecology
  • Oceanography
  • Climate Change Impact

Background:

  • Marine mammal health is tied to ocean productivity and prey availability.
  • Oceanic warming trends impact prey distribution and abundance.
  • Northern elephant seal pup weaning weight reflects maternal foraging success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term effects of ocean climate on northern elephant seal foraging success.
  • To use pup weaning weight as an indicator of resource accrual over three decades.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of northern elephant seal pup weaning weights from 1975-2004.
  • Correlation of weaning weights with ocean climate regimes (warm vs. cool decadal periods).
  • Assessment of maternal foraging effort and mass gain in relation to ocean temperatures.

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Main Results:

  • Pup weaning weights declined during a warm decadal regime (1975-late 1990s) and increased during a cool regime (1999-2004).
  • High ocean temperatures correlated with increased maternal foraging effort and reduced mass gain.
  • Reduced foraging success in females was linked to elevated ocean temperatures.

Conclusions:

  • Northern elephant seals are significantly affected by ocean thermal dynamics, even when foraging in deep, cold waters.
  • Ocean warming alters prey distribution, reducing female foraging success and consequently pup weaning mass.
  • Annual variations in pup weaning mass serve as an indicator of maternal foraging success and ocean temperature cycles.