An assessment of the status of the common seal Phoca vitulina vitulina in Ireland

Summers, Carol; Warner, P.J.; Nairn, R.; Curry, Mary G.; Flynn, J.

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(80)90041-5

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Further harbour seal specific surveys were carried out in northern Ireland by Venables and Venables (1960), Nairn (1979) and, more recently, by Wilson and Corpe (1996). The first harbour seal census of the island of Ireland was undertaken in July 1978 (Summers et al 1980). Based on a combination of boat and aerial surveys, this gave a minimum estimate of 1,248 but absolute abundance was considered to be 1,500 to 2,000 individuals.…”

Section: Minimum Estimate Of the Irish Harbour Seal Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Harbour Seal Terrestrial Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed large-scale surveys of harbour seal populations occurring in rocky shore habitats in the northeast Atlantic and northeast Pacific are generally conducted during the annual moult (Reijnders et al 1997, Huber et al 2001, Small et al 2001. Consideration of background data on harbour seal distribution for the Republic of Ireland (Lockley 1966, Summers et al 1980, Warner 1983 …”

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confidence: 99%

“…Consideration of background data on harbour seal distribution for the Republic of Ireland (Lockley 1966, Summers et al 1980, Warner 1983 …”

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confidence: 99%

“…In 1978-84, the harbour seal population in the Republic of Ireland was found to be concentrated in the west and northwest of the country (Summers et al 1980, Warner 1983 while County Down held almost half of the allIreland population at this time (Nairn 1979 et al 1980). Haulout sites for harbour seals in Ireland have tended historically to be found among sheltered inshore bays and islands, coves and estuaries (Lockley 1966, Summers et al 1980. In this respect the indented coastline of western Ireland provides more favoured haulout habitat for the species than the south and east coasts which are generally less indented, with more exposed sandy beaches and less of the typical harbour seal haulout habitat evident on the west coast.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The status of the harbour seal (<i>Phoca vitulina</i>) in Ireland

Cronin

2010

NAMMCOSP

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The status of Ireland's harbour seal population and its relationship with that of Britain and Western Europe are poorly understood. Prior to 2003, limited research efforts and poor co-ordination of survey methods fell short at providing an accurate assessment of overall distribution and population size on a regional or national scale. However, in August 2003, the Republic of Ireland's harbour seal population was assessed by means of a geographically extensive survey conducted during the annual moult, providing an up-to-date minimum population estimate and a reliable baseline for future surveys. Trends on a national scale could not be assessed due to absence of a reliable historic population estimate; however there is some evidence of local decreases and increases in harbour seal numbers in Northern Ireland and southwest Ireland respectively. Research effort to date on aspects of the ecology of the harbour seal in the Republic of Ireland is reviewed and current research and management priorities highlighted. HARBOUR SEAL ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION Minimum estimate of the Irish harbour seal populationThe population of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Ireland was first enumerated by Lockley (1966) who based his minimum estimate of 1,000 on data collected incidentally, during surveys of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), in the autumns of 1964-65. Further harbour seal specific surveys were carried out in northern Ireland by Venables and Venables (1960), Nairn (1979) and, more recently, by Wilson and Corpe (1996). The first harbour seal census of the island of Ireland was undertaken in July 1978 (Summers et al. 1980). Based on a combination of boat and aerial surveys, this gave a minimum estimate of 1,248 but absolute abundance was considered to be 1,500 to 2,000 individuals. Additional information in the Republic of Ireland was collected by Warner (1983Warner ( , 1984 and haulout counts were conducted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government at some well-known sites in the intervening years (Table 1). However, these counts have varied in location, consistency, timing and methodology and could not provide complete national or island-wide perspectives on population size and distribution. , 1997, Huber 1995, Jeffries et al. 2003, Adkinson et al. 2003, Hayward et al. 2005. While breeding season counts provide reliable estimates of abundance as well as valuable pup production data, Härkönen et al. (1999) concluded that in nonstable age-structured populations the influence of the differential haulout behaviour on estimating abundance is likely to be greater during the breeding period than during the moult period. Reijnders et al. (2003) recommended future use of moult count data to obtain a reliable and consistent index of population abundance of harbour seals in the Wadden Sea, while Thompson et al. (1997) suggest that counts made during the August moult provided more reliable population estimates for harbour seals hauling out on...

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Section: Minimum Estimate Of the Irish Harbour Seal Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Harbour Seal Terrestrial Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consideration of background data on harbour seal distribution for the Republic of Ireland (Lockley 1966, Summers et al 1980, Warner 1983 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%