Interannual differences in postrelease movements of rehabilitated harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardii) in the Salish Sea. Issue 1 (5th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sangster, Samantha; Haulena, Martin; Nordstrom, Chad; Gaydos, Joseph K.
• Is Part Of: Marine mammal science. Volume 37:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2020-09-05
• Subjects: harbor seal -- Phoca vitulina richardii -- postrelease monitoring -- rehabilitation -- satellite tracking; Marine mammals -- Congresses; Marine mammals -- Periodicals; Marine mammals, Fossil -- Periodicals; Mammifères marins -- Périodiques; 599.5
• DOI: 10.1111/mms.12739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0824-0469

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the large number of harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii ) rehabilitated worldwide, few studies have been conducted on postrelease movement and behavior of rehabilitated harbor seal pups. We compared interannual differences in movements and survival of 24 rehabilitated seal pups released in the Salish Sea in 2010 ( n = 10), 2012 ( n = 5), 2013 ( n = 5), and 2014 ( n = 4). We also compared the postrelease movement of these seals to the movement of 10 wild seal pups tracked in the same ecosystem in 2010. Transmission duration, total cumulative distance, and average daily distance varied annually. Maximum linear distance traveled from the release site was similar for the rehabilitated seal groups. Compared to wild seals ( n = 10), and consistent with prior studies, rehabilitated pups ( n = 24) traveled significantly farther daily and cumulatively than wild weaned pups. Unlike in a prior study in this ecosystem, we found no significant difference between transmission duration in wild and rehabilitated pups.