Use of glacial and terrestrial habitats by harbor seals in Glacier Bay, Alaska: costs and benefits

Among pinnipeds, harbor sealsPhoca vitulinahave the broadest distribution (a 34° to 50° range in latitudes in the Pacific and Atlantic regions, respectively) and are found in a diversity of habitats. Harbor seals in Alaska, USA, similar to Arctic pinnipeds in many respects, rely upon glacial ice for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2011-05, Vol.429, p.277-290
Main Authors: Blundell, Gail M., Womble, Jamie N., Pendleton, Grey W., Karpovich, Shawna A., Gende, Scott M., Herreman, Jason K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body condition
Diet
Foraging
Glaciers
Habitats
Harbors
Pups
Seals
Tidewater glaciers
Wildlife habitats
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Summary:Among pinnipeds, harbor sealsPhoca vitulinahave the broadest distribution (a 34° to 50° range in latitudes in the Pacific and Atlantic regions, respectively) and are found in a diversity of habitats. Harbor seals in Alaska, USA, similar to Arctic pinnipeds in many respects, rely upon glacial ice for pupping, mating, and molting. Just as climate change affects Arctic sea ice, tidewater glaciers are rapidly retreating in Alaska, reducing ice availability for harbor seals. An increased understanding of glacial vs. terrestrial harbor seals may reveal information important to conservation of harbor seals and Arctic pinnipeds, as effects of climate change continue. We compared foraging distances, activity budgets, diet, and body condition for seals captured at glacial and terrestrial sites in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Foraging strategies and activity budgets of seals using glacial ice differed substantially from seals using terrestrial sites. Glacial seals traveled significantly farther to forage (≥40 vs.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps09073