Seals in Shetland waters
Synopsis The distribution and status of grey and common seals around Shetland is reviewed. Recent surveys have produced an accurate picture of the location of breeding sites, grey seals being found at discrete localities mainly in the north and west of the islands and common seals being distributed...
Published in: | Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences |
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1981
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006564 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0269727000006564 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0269727000006564 2024-03-03T08:43:42+00:00 Seals in Shetland waters Anderson, Sheila S. 1981 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006564 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0269727000006564 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences volume 80, page 181-188 ISSN 0269-7270 2053-5910 General Medicine journal-article 1981 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006564 2024-02-08T08:28:13Z Synopsis The distribution and status of grey and common seals around Shetland is reviewed. Recent surveys have produced an accurate picture of the location of breeding sites, grey seals being found at discrete localities mainly in the north and west of the islands and common seals being distributed more widely throughout the archipelago. The population of grey seals is estimated at 3,500 animals and is considered to be relatively constant. The reliability of boat surveys for estimating common seal populations is discussed. It is concluded that the population of Shetland has increased in numbers following protective legislation and it is suggested that there has also been a change in hauling out behaviour. The current population consists of at least 4000 individuals. Grey seals do not appear to have been affected by oil developments at Sullom Voe so far, but common seal numbers in the Sullom Voe area have not increased at the same rate as elsewhere in Shetland, and the number of pups present has declined. It is suggested that these changes may have arisen as a result of the development of the oil terminal. Study methods which would enable the nature and causes of these changes to be identified are proposed. Article in Journal/Newspaper common seal Cambridge University Press Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences 80 181 188 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
General Medicine |
spellingShingle |
General Medicine Anderson, Sheila S. Seals in Shetland waters |
topic_facet |
General Medicine |
description |
Synopsis The distribution and status of grey and common seals around Shetland is reviewed. Recent surveys have produced an accurate picture of the location of breeding sites, grey seals being found at discrete localities mainly in the north and west of the islands and common seals being distributed more widely throughout the archipelago. The population of grey seals is estimated at 3,500 animals and is considered to be relatively constant. The reliability of boat surveys for estimating common seal populations is discussed. It is concluded that the population of Shetland has increased in numbers following protective legislation and it is suggested that there has also been a change in hauling out behaviour. The current population consists of at least 4000 individuals. Grey seals do not appear to have been affected by oil developments at Sullom Voe so far, but common seal numbers in the Sullom Voe area have not increased at the same rate as elsewhere in Shetland, and the number of pups present has declined. It is suggested that these changes may have arisen as a result of the development of the oil terminal. Study methods which would enable the nature and causes of these changes to be identified are proposed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anderson, Sheila S. |
author_facet |
Anderson, Sheila S. |
author_sort |
Anderson, Sheila S. |
title |
Seals in Shetland waters |
title_short |
Seals in Shetland waters |
title_full |
Seals in Shetland waters |
title_fullStr |
Seals in Shetland waters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seals in Shetland waters |
title_sort |
seals in shetland waters |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1981 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006564 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0269727000006564 |
genre |
common seal |
genre_facet |
common seal |
op_source |
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences volume 80, page 181-188 ISSN 0269-7270 2053-5910 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006564 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences |
container_volume |
80 |
container_start_page |
181 |
op_container_end_page |
188 |
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1792499145932537856 |