Pinnipeds of NY Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the MMPA in relation to pinnipeds
A
- Passed in 1972
- Prohibits the take of marine mammals in U.S waters and by U.S citizens on the high seas (also includes harassment)
- Jurisdiction is shared by U.S fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
- Goal was to maintain the health and stability of marine ecosystems
2
Q
What are exceptions to the MMPA?
A
- Pre-MMPA specimens taken before 12/21/1972
- Alaskan natives
- Scientific research
- Bycatch
- Enhancing the survival or recovery of the species
- Waivers granted by the U.S government
3
Q
What is CITES stand for?
A
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- Established in 1975
- Ensures that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild
- A state or country that has agreed to implement the convention is called a party to CITES
- There are 183 parties (182 member countries and the European Union)
4
Q
How does CITES pertain to marine mammals?
A
Protects the dead materials of marine mammals rather than live ones
5
Q
What are the differences between a seal and a sea lion?
A
- Pelvic bones are fused preventing them from moving their hind flippers to walk on land
- Lack external ear flaps (pinnae)
- Fur
- Seal pups develop lanugo (harbor seals will shed lanugo before they are born other species will not shed lanugo until they ween from their mom)
Sea lions = only on west coast
6
Q
What are the five species of seal that can be found in NY?
A
- Harp seals
- Harbor seals
- Grey seals
- Hooded seals
- Ringed seals
7
Q
Describe NY pinniped stranding data
A
- Harp seals = 41%
- Gray seals = 29% (increasing)
- Harbor seals = 24% (decreasing)
- Hooded = 4.3%
- Ringed = 1.6%
8
Q
What are some characteristics of gray seals?
A
- 550-880Ibs
- Lifespan = 25-35 years
- 7.5-10ft
- Sexually dimorphic by color (females = silver-gray fur, males = dark gray fur)
- “Hooked-nosed pig of the sea”
9
Q
Describe the reproductive methods of gray seals
A
- Gather in large groups to mate
- Males can mate with many different females in a single breeding season
- Eastern Atlantic females give birth from September-November
- Western Atlantic females give birth from December-February
- Newborns = 35Ibs
- Nurse on fat for 3 weeks gaining 3Ibs a day
10
Q
What are the biggest threats to gray seals?
A
- Entanglement
- Human-caused injuries
- Vessel strikes
- Viruses
11
Q
What are some characteristics of harp seals?
A
- 260-300Ibs
- Lifespan = unknown
- 5-6ft
- Robust body with small flat head, thick strong claws with smaller narrower claws on back flippers
- Typically seen on LI as yearlings, pups separate from mom early, no longer allowed to live in group setting as they will get attacked by older males
12
Q
Describe the reproductive methods of harp seals
A
- Females give birth February-Mid March
- Will only give birth on pack ice
- Newborns = 25Ibs, 3ft long
- Nursing lasts 12 days gaining 5Ibs a day
- Weaning occurs at 80 Ibs
- After weaning females leave pups on pack ice, pups stay on ice without eating for 6 weeks before entering the water and eating on their own
13
Q
What are the biggest threats to harp seals?
A
- Vessel strikes
- Entanglement
- Habitat degradation
- Climate change (contributes to habitat loss)
- Hunting (Canada)
What happens when there is no snow/ice for them to eat?
14
Q
What are some characteristics of harbor seals?
A
- 24Ibs (birth), 180-285Ibs (adult)
- Lifespan = 25-30 years
- 5-6ft
- Short, dog-like snout, coloration varies from light tan, silver or blue-gray with dark spots
Premature abandonment is huge!
15
Q
Describe the reproductive methods of harbor seals
A
- Reach sexual maturity between 3 and 7 years old
- Pups are born earlier in the south than in the north
- Females are pregnant for about 10 months
- Pups are ready to swim within minutes of birth
- Nursed for 4 to 6 weeks
- Mother and pups group together in nurseries to protect themselves from predators
16
Q
What are the biggest threats to harbor seals?
A
- Entanglement
- Illegal feeding and harassment
- Vessel collisions
- Disease (prone to lots of viruses)
- Human interaction (prone to habituation)
17
Q
What are some characteristics of hooded seals?
A
- 320-776Ibs
- Lifespan = 25-35 years
- 6.6-8.5ft
- Males are larger than females, silver-gray fur with darker patches of different sizes and shapes across bodies
- Nose - scratchy cavity or hood in their nose, males can inflate and extend this hood
18
Q
Describe the reproductive methods of hooded seals
A
- Annually migrate once they reach sexual maturity for 2-3 weeks in spring
- After pups are born, adults stay to molt, migration takes place after molting
- Shortest weaning period of any mammal
- Pups have blue-gray fur on their back and whitish bellies
- Pups shed blue-gray coat at 14 months old
19
Q
What are the biggest threats to hooded seals?
A
- Entanglement
- Climate change
- Hunting (Canada)
20
Q
What are some characteristics of ringed seals?
A
- 110-150Ibs (smallest species)
- Lifespan = 25-30 years
- 4-4.5ft
- Small head, short cat-like snout, plump body, coat is dark with light colored rings on their back and sides, light colored belly, strong claws used to maintain breathing holes through 6ft of ice
20
Q
Describe the reproductive methods of ringed seals
A
- Sexual maturity varies with population status (as early as 3 years for both sexes and as late as 7 years for males and 9 years for females)
- Breed annually
- Mating occurs while females are still nursing pups
- Pups nurse for as long as 2 months and as little as 3 to 6 weeks
21
Q
What are the biggest threats to ringed seals?
A
- Climate change
- Entanglement in fishing gear
22
Q
What are some natural causes of mortality for pinnipeds?
A
- Mortality in pinnipeds is high very young
- 10-20% of pups die before they are weaned
- 20-50% of newborns may not survive the first year
- Leading cause of pup mortality is accidental separation or premature abandonment
- Secondary cause is starvation
23
Q
Describe the NY stranding season for pinnipeds?
A
- Starts in December/January - Some calls are about the same individuals
- 89% of calls occur during March and May
- Most individuals are resting but intervention is necessary because of harassment issues
24
What are some factors that increase incoming stranding calls
- Warmer weather
- Number of people on the beach
- Spring break
25
Where do pinnipeds typically strand?
Mostly souther coastal ocean facing beaches
26
Describe normal behavior for a seal
- Hauling out
- Pups and yearlings are solitary
- Banana pose
- Do not use hind flippers like feet
- Vocalization does NOT = crying
- Aggressive behavior
- Showing teeth
- Extending and waving flipper
27
What are the in-field responses for pinpeds
- Monitor in field
- Relocation/release (moving from a heavily populated beach to a quiet beach)
- Admit for rehabilitation
28
What is PPE?
- Personal Protective Equipment
*What disease do people who work with seals commonly test positive for?*
29
Who can conduct in-field monitoring?
- NYMRC staff
- Trained officers
- Park rangers
- Members of the public
30
Why is in-field monitoring conducted?
- Animal is exhibiting normal behavior
- Adult is not able to be admitted
- Rehab space is limited
31
How long do animals remain in the field?
No more than 48-72 hours
