Climate change, together with increasing human activity, poses a threat to the breeding success of endangered landlocked ringed seals (Phoca hispida saimensis). In this study, we estimated the spatial ecology of Saimaa ringed seals during the breeding season in the ice-covered period of December-April. The telemetry data on tagged seals (n = 20), with a total of 25 separate tracking periods and birth lair locations (n = 59) of non-tagged seals, were studied to estimate the movement ecology and breeding density. The movements of the ringed seals were more restricted during the ice-covered season; the total home range size (average 7.4 km2) in winter was 13 times smaller than that in summer. Individual tagged seals occupied an average of 5 ± 3 SD subnivean haul outs (snow lairs or ice cavities), and the mean distance between the haul outs was 1.6 ± 1.1 SD km (range 0.2–5.9 km). Moreover, our data indicated that ringed seal females likely exhibited breeding time avoidance of each other’s core areas, which may indicate some degree of territoriality. This was supported by the findings that the core areas (mean 1.2 km2) of tagged adult females (n = 9), did not overlap with each other. Also data on non-tagged seals showed that females did not give birth to pups within the core area radius of other parturient females. This study, together with earlier findings on the home ranges of nursed pups and perinatal mortality rates, has implications into land usage planning in Lake Saimaa by highlighting the need of undisturbed area between seal lairs and anthropogenic disturbances.
Human disturbance can affect the viability of wildlife populations partly through its effects on breeding success. Land use as a form of disturbance may do so by fragmenting the key environments of certain species. We used statistical pattern recognition methods to estimate the long-term effects of human disturbance on the Endangered, landlocked population of the Saimaa ringed seal Pusa hispida saimensis by examining how various densities of buildings on lake shores have altered the survival of juveniles and the persistence of the population. In addition, we examined whether disturbance caused by different intensities of land use would further reduce the long-term persistence of the population. We also provide estimates of the quality of Lake Saimaa shorelines as breeding habitat in relation to building density. Our results show that at present, the lairs of Saimaa ringed seals are located closer to potential sources of human disturbance than they were in the past and that land use intensity has an effect on juvenile mortality. Perinatal mortality increases significantly in more densely developed areas, where the nearest building is within 800 m of a birth lair. In addition, 29% of the shoreline of Lake Saimaa is no longer suitable for ringed seals due to intensive land use. Our results illustrate how human disturbances can significantly compromise juvenile survival and therefore the long-term existence of this Endangered population.
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