Harvest
humanely killing an animal, limiting harvest to a level that maintains the population
How do sirenian diets change in captivity?
switches from huge amounts of plant life to a diet of mostly lettuce, some green plants, and elephant vitamins
What are the challenges of pinniped conservation?
Dugongidae and Trichechidae
What are the 4 species of ice seals
ringed, bearded, spotted, and ribbon
What are the arguments for harvesting marine mammals in Greenland and Alaska?
Preservation of inuit culture and subsistence
How many sirenians are in captivity globally?
less than 10
How can we conserve marine mammals in the wild without keeping them in captivity?
protect their natural habitats and remove human-induced threats, reducing bycatch, hunting, and boat strikes
What are sirenians' closest relatives?
elephants
The ice seals are widely distributed and their habitats are remote and difficult to get to, making them difficult to study.
In which countries is commercial sealing allowed?
Norway, Russia, Greenland
What was the age of the oldest manatee in captivity?
69 -> Snooty the manatee at Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Florida
How many seals does the Alaska SeaLife Center rehabilitate every summer?
6-12 harbor seals and an ice seal every other year
What species of sirenian went extinct due to overhunting?
Stellar's sea cow
What are ice seals harvested for?
Local consumption, trade of seal products
What are the ethical issues with banning the sale of seal pelts for Inuit populations?
not allowing Inuit communities to profit off their traditional practices and engage in cultural activities
What situations lead to manatees being taken into captivity?
injury due to boat collision, isolated calves (low survival rate on own)
What are two causes of prey species population decline?
What are sirenian teeth specialized for?
grinding vegetation
How does ice loss affect ice seals?
leaves them without a place to rest, breed, and feed, making them vulnerable to predation and unable to reproduce
Where are dugongs hunted?
Australia
What are the effects of captivity on sirenians?
difficulty mating because they cannot migrate and trigger hormone release
What percentage of the ocean is in marine protected areas (MPA)?
8%
What are the greatest threats to sirenians?
boat strikes and human interference, disease outbreaks (ex. parasites) and microplastics, habitat reduction due to climate change
Which ice seal is most heavily relied on for food and oil?
bearded seal