Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals
ABSTRACT Ecologists and managers require accurate population estimates of marine mammals to assess potential anthropogenic threats to these animals. We present estimates of in‐water density and abundance of a distinct stock of harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii ) in Hood Canal, Washington, USA....
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crwiley:10.1002/jwmg.22019 2024-06-23T07:53:30+00:00 Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals Ampela, Kristen Jefferson, Thomas A. Smultea, Mari A. U.S. Navy 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/am-pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22019 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#am http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 85, issue 4, page 706-712 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 journal-article 2021 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22019 2024-06-06T04:24:05Z ABSTRACT Ecologists and managers require accurate population estimates of marine mammals to assess potential anthropogenic threats to these animals. We present estimates of in‐water density and abundance of a distinct stock of harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii ) in Hood Canal, Washington, USA. We used aerial line‐transect survey data collected from 2013 to 2016 to directly estimate harbor seal density and abundance in the waters of Hood Canal, a deep‐water fjord in the Salish Sea. We estimated a correction factor for trackline detection probability from dive and surface time data gathered from regional seal tagging studies, and applied this factor to correct for seals missed on the trackline during surveys. We applied conventional and multiple covariate line‐transect approaches in the analysis. The resulting best estimate of in‐water density of harbor seals in the Hood Canal study region was 5.80 seals/km 2 , with an estimated abundance of 2,009 seals. We did not derive a correction factor to account for the number of seals on land (i.e., hauled out). Therefore, these estimates do not reflect total stock size but provide a starting point to evaluate potential influences of anthropogenic activities, particularly those involving underwater noise, on this marine mammal stock. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. Article in Journal/Newspaper harbor seal Phoca vitulina Wiley Online Library The Journal of Wildlife Management 85 4 706 712 |
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Open Polar |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT Ecologists and managers require accurate population estimates of marine mammals to assess potential anthropogenic threats to these animals. We present estimates of in‐water density and abundance of a distinct stock of harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina richardii ) in Hood Canal, Washington, USA. We used aerial line‐transect survey data collected from 2013 to 2016 to directly estimate harbor seal density and abundance in the waters of Hood Canal, a deep‐water fjord in the Salish Sea. We estimated a correction factor for trackline detection probability from dive and surface time data gathered from regional seal tagging studies, and applied this factor to correct for seals missed on the trackline during surveys. We applied conventional and multiple covariate line‐transect approaches in the analysis. The resulting best estimate of in‐water density of harbor seals in the Hood Canal study region was 5.80 seals/km 2 , with an estimated abundance of 2,009 seals. We did not derive a correction factor to account for the number of seals on land (i.e., hauled out). Therefore, these estimates do not reflect total stock size but provide a starting point to evaluate potential influences of anthropogenic activities, particularly those involving underwater noise, on this marine mammal stock. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. |
author2 |
U.S. Navy |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ampela, Kristen Jefferson, Thomas A. Smultea, Mari A. |
spellingShingle |
Ampela, Kristen Jefferson, Thomas A. Smultea, Mari A. Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
author_facet |
Ampela, Kristen Jefferson, Thomas A. Smultea, Mari A. |
author_sort |
Ampela, Kristen |
title |
Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
title_short |
Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
title_full |
Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
title_fullStr |
Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
title_full_unstemmed |
Estimation of In‐Water Density and Abundance of Harbor Seals |
title_sort |
estimation of in‐water density and abundance of harbor seals |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jwmg.22019 https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/am-pdf/10.1002/jwmg.22019 |
genre |
harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 85, issue 4, page 706-712 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#am http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22019 |
container_title |
The Journal of Wildlife Management |
container_volume |
85 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
706 |
op_container_end_page |
712 |
_version_ |
1802645191070318592 |