On the causes of the decrease in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) population in the Dutch Wadden Sea : population dynamics and tissue levels of heavy metal and organochlorine compounds

• Main Author: Reijnders, P.J.H.
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Landbouwhogeschool 1980
• Subjects: phocidae; polychlorinated biphenyls; population dynamics; wadden sea; polychloorbifenylen; populatiedynamica; waddenzee; harbour seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/on-the-causes-of-the-decrease-in-the-harbour-seal-phoca-vitulina-

The harbour seal population in the Dutch Wadden Sea decreased significantly during the last decades. Calculations based on bounty data revealed that the population decreased from about 2700 in 1950 to about 900 in 1959. Annual aerial surveys - which were carried out since that time - showed a slight increase due to the stop of hunting. However, after 1964 a new decline occurred and since 1974 the population stays at a level of about 450 specimens. During 1974 to 1978 the population dynamics of the population have been studied. Frequent aerial surveys provided data on the size of the population. These data have been used in a simulation model and the birth rate and the initial juvenile mortality were calculated. During boat trips an indication of the age composition was obtained by measuring track widths. By comparing these results with similar results from a stable population in Schleswig Holstein it appeared 1) that juvenile mortality in the first weeks in the Dutch population is higher than that in Schleswig Holstein but the overall mortality of pups in both areas in their first three months of life is of the same order; 2) that pup production in the Dutch population is low compared to the population in Schleswig Holstein; 3) that apparently immigration from elsewhere occurs. To investigate the contribution of environmental pollution to the decline of the Dutch seal population tissues of dead, stranded animals originating from Schleswig Holstein, Denmark and The Netherlands were collected and analysed for PCB's, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-(DDT, DDE, TDE), dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, endosulfan, α, β, γ, -HCH, HCB, QCB (pentachlorobenzene), HEPO, total mercury, methylmercury, selenium and bromium. Tests on possible differences in residue levels between Schleswig Holstein plus Denmark on one hand and The Netherlands on the other revealed that especially PCB levels were significantly higher in Dutch adult seals. Considering epidemiological and experimental data an the effects of PCB's on mammalian reproduction, strong support ...