A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest.
Formerly abundant salmonid, rockfish, and herring species are experiencing population decline in the Salish Sea. To design effective management and recovery strategies, we must understand the population dynamics of these fishes in relation to their predator species: the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)....
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Western CEDAR
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://cedar.wwu.edu/scholwk/2015/Day_one/1 |
id |
ftwestwashington:oai:cedar.wwu.edu:scholwk-1000 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftwestwashington:oai:cedar.wwu.edu:scholwk-1000 2024-09-15T18:10:39+00:00 A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. Spitzer, Sara 2015-05-14T17:00:00Z https://cedar.wwu.edu/scholwk/2015/Day_one/1 English eng Western CEDAR https://cedar.wwu.edu/scholwk/2015/Day_one/1 Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. Scholars Week Biology text 2015 ftwestwashington 2024-06-25T03:21:39Z Formerly abundant salmonid, rockfish, and herring species are experiencing population decline in the Salish Sea. To design effective management and recovery strategies, we must understand the population dynamics of these fishes in relation to their predator species: the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Given that food consumption in the dimorphic harbor seal is related to body mass, an understanding of prey population dynamics requires a description of sex-specific diet preferences. Genetic barcoding was performed on seal scat to generate diet composition data; qPCR was used to identify zinc finger proteins (ZfX and ZfY) to determine the sex of the individual that deposited each sample. Data were collected from two haul-out sites in 2012-2013 in the Georgia Strait, Canada. At Comox during 2012, male harbor seals (n=82 scats) consumed Pacific Hake (37%), salmon species (26%), and Pacific Herring (13%), whereas females (n=68 scats) consumed Pacific Herring (35%), Pacific Hake (8%), salmon species (8%), Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (7%), and Lingcod (5%). Given that Lingcod and sculpins are salmon predators, similar results following complete analysis would indicate that female harbor seals may improve salmon recovery whereas males may diminish it. Findings also highlight the importance of addressing intra-specific differences to understand community interactions and suggest management strategies. Text harbor seal Phoca vitulina Western Washington University: CEDAR (Contributing to Education through Digital Access to Research) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Western Washington University: CEDAR (Contributing to Education through Digital Access to Research) |
op_collection_id |
ftwestwashington |
language |
English |
topic |
Biology |
spellingShingle |
Biology Spitzer, Sara A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
topic_facet |
Biology |
description |
Formerly abundant salmonid, rockfish, and herring species are experiencing population decline in the Salish Sea. To design effective management and recovery strategies, we must understand the population dynamics of these fishes in relation to their predator species: the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Given that food consumption in the dimorphic harbor seal is related to body mass, an understanding of prey population dynamics requires a description of sex-specific diet preferences. Genetic barcoding was performed on seal scat to generate diet composition data; qPCR was used to identify zinc finger proteins (ZfX and ZfY) to determine the sex of the individual that deposited each sample. Data were collected from two haul-out sites in 2012-2013 in the Georgia Strait, Canada. At Comox during 2012, male harbor seals (n=82 scats) consumed Pacific Hake (37%), salmon species (26%), and Pacific Herring (13%), whereas females (n=68 scats) consumed Pacific Herring (35%), Pacific Hake (8%), salmon species (8%), Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (7%), and Lingcod (5%). Given that Lingcod and sculpins are salmon predators, similar results following complete analysis would indicate that female harbor seals may improve salmon recovery whereas males may diminish it. Findings also highlight the importance of addressing intra-specific differences to understand community interactions and suggest management strategies. |
format |
Text |
author |
Spitzer, Sara |
author_facet |
Spitzer, Sara |
author_sort |
Spitzer, Sara |
title |
A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
title_short |
A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
title_full |
A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
title_fullStr |
A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
title_full_unstemmed |
A genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the Pacific Northwest. |
title_sort |
genetic analysis of sex-specific prey consumption in harbor seals (phoca vitulina) and the implications for commercially important fish species in the pacific northwest. |
publisher |
Western CEDAR |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://cedar.wwu.edu/scholwk/2015/Day_one/1 |
genre |
harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Scholars Week |
op_relation |
https://cedar.wwu.edu/scholwk/2015/Day_one/1 |
op_rights |
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. |
_version_ |
1810448241742839808 |