Harbor seal monitoring in southern Kenai Peninsula fjords, Alaska: 1979 - 2007

Abstract: Harbor seals in Aialik Bay, a tidewater glacial habitat on the Kenai Peninsula, have been monitored since 1979 by field observations and remotely controlled video cameras. From 1980-2002 mean numbers of pups, adjusted for environmental conditions, declined 88% from 148 to 18 pups and remained stable through 2007 while seals counted during molt declined 82% from 801 seals to 141seals. Since 2002, numbers of molting seals have shown rapid growth of 21%/yr, coincident with use of expanding habitat near Pedersen Glacier. Results indicate that Aialik Bay, especially Pedersen Lake, is a favorable molt location, but low pup counts indicate continued poor recruitment. Kayak interactions and seal behavior were evaluated from 2004-2007. Results showed seals in Pedersen Lake abandoned the ice more frequently when humans were present. Although guided trips caused less impact than unguided trips, mitigation training provided to guides resulted in a further reduction in numbers of seals abandoning the ice. Purpose: Population studies of harbor seals using glacial ice in Aialik Bay were first conducted from 1979-1981 (Hoover 1983) and were continued intermittently through 1995 (NPS unpublished, Hoover-Miller unpublished). Beginning in 2002, the National Park Service's Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center supported the development and use of remotely controlled video cameras to document information on numbers of seals at haulouts and haulout attendance relative to local environmental conditions, glacier activity and interactions between humans and seals since 2002. Description of data: Two primary data sets are produced by the video monitoring project: one includes count, environmental co-variates, video camera performance, and general video tape log, and the other includes video observations pertaining to vessel interactions with harbor seals. Format: Primary data associated with video monitoring have been incorporated into two Access databases. Original video images are stored on VHS video tape; a digital conversion of a subset of records is planned for 2008. Paper records of counts, vessel Other data sets pertainin to weather, lunar cycles, tidal cycles and related environmental data have been compiled from other sources for analysis. Publications: Hoover-Miller, A., C. Jezierski, and S. Atkinson. 2008. Harbor seal monitoring in Southern Kenai Peninsula Fjords. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Project Final Report (GEM Project 050749), Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska.摘要：自1979年起，研究人员通过野外观测与遥控摄像机，对栖息于基奈半岛潮间带冰川生境阿亚利克湾的港海豹（Harbor seal）开展监测。1980-2002年间，经环境条件校正后的幼崽平均数量从148头下降至18头，降幅达88%，并在2007年前维持稳定；而换毛期统计的港海豹数量从801头下降至141头，降幅82%。2002年以来，换毛期港海豹数量以每年21%的速率快速增长，这与佩德森冰川附近扩张的栖息位点使用情况相吻合。研究结果显示，阿亚利克湾（尤其是佩德森湖）是适宜的换毛栖息位点，但幼崽数量偏低表明种群补充仍处于不佳状态。2004-2007年间，研究人员评估了皮划艇互动与港海豹行为模式，结果表明，当人类活动存在时，佩德森湖内的港海豹更频繁地离开浮冰。尽管有向导带领的皮划艇行程对海豹的影响小于无向导行程，但为向导提供的减缓影响培训可进一步减少离开浮冰的港海豹数量。 研究目的：针对阿亚利克湾内利用冰川冰的港海豹的种群研究，最初于1979-1981年开展（Hoover, 1983），并断断续续持续至1995年（美国国家公园管理局未刊稿、Hoover-Miller未刊稿）。2002年起，美国国家公园管理局阿拉斯加海洋科学与学习中心支持开发并应用遥控摄像机，以记录2002年以来港海豹休憩位点的种群数量、休憩时长与当地环境条件、冰川活动及人与海豹互动的相关信息。 数据说明：本视频监测项目产出两类核心数据集：其一包含种群数量统计、环境协变量、摄像机运行状态及通用录像带日志信息；其二包含与港海豹和船只互动相关的视频观测数据。数据格式：与视频监测相关的核心数据已整合至两个Access数据库中。原始视频影像存储于VHS录像带，计划于2008年对部分记录进行数字化转换。种群数量、船只互动的纸质记录，以及与天气、月相周期、潮汐周期及相关环境数据相关的其他数据集，均已从其他来源汇编完成，用于后续分析。 已发表文献： Hoover-Miller, A.、C. Jezierski及S. Atkinson，2008年。《基奈半岛南部峡湾港海豹监测》。埃克森·瓦尔迪兹溢油海湾生态系统监测与研究项目最终报告（GEM项目编号050749），阿拉斯加海洋生物中心，苏厄德，阿拉斯加。