Intraperitoneal implantation of life-long telemetry transmitters in three rehabilitated harbor seal pups

Abstract

BackgroundPinnipeds, including many phocid species of concern, are inaccessible and difficult to monitor for extended periods using conventional, externally attached telemetry devices that are shed during the annual molt. Archival satellite transmitters were implanted intraperitoneally into three stranded Pacific harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardii) that completed rehabilitation, to evaluate the viability of this surgical technique for the deployment of life long telemetry devices in phocids. The life history transmitters record information throughout the life of the host and transmit data to orbiting satellites after extrusion following death.ResultsSurgeries were performed under general anesthesia and a single transmitter was inserted into the ventrocaudal abdominal cavity via a 7–8 cm incision along the ventral midline between the umbilicus and pubic symphysis or preputial opening in each animal. Surgeries lasted from 45 to 51 min, and anesthesic times ranged from 55 to 79 min. All animals recovered well, were released into dry holding pens overnight, and were given access to water the following day. All three animals exhibited an expected inflammatory response, with acute phase responses lasting approximately three to four weeks. All three animals were tracked via externally attached satellite transmitters after release at 58 to 78 days following surgery, and minimum post-release survival was confirmed through continued movement data received over 278 to 289 days.ConclusionThe initial findings of low morbidity and zero mortality encountered during captive observation and post-release tracking periods support the viability of this surgical technique for the implantation of long-term telemetry devices in phocids.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1060-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Best practice recommendations for the use of fully implanted telemetry devices in pinnipeds

“…Wound healing and the acute phase of the inflammatory response were resolved by six weeks after surgery. After that time, all blood analytes were within ranges observed in non-implanted animals [53]. Survival was confirmed, and all three animals tracked for about one year after release through external satellite transmitters [53].…”

“…Some criteria may be linked to the experimental design such as sex, age or size and reproductive status. When the selection is not critical to the sampling design (i.e., differences in health status, size, age or other criteria are not the focus of the study), animals with [41,50] and intraperitoneally [43,53]. The latter may be considered more invasive, and complications such as dehiscence and infections may lead to severe consequences, and even death.…”

“…In 2014, Horning et al [53] abdominally implanted single second-generation LHX2 tags into three recently rehabilitated harbor seal pups (Fig. 3).…”

“…Examples of possible short-term effects may include discomfort and pain, as well as reduced appetence, mobility or vigilance. Assessments may include physiology (temperature, stress hormones, blood metabolites), behavior and movement (posture, resting), and changes in food intake, and could take advantage of data from the FITs (e.g., body core temperatures, data from accelerometers) (e.g., [53,[59][60][61][62]). b) Medium-term effects ranging from days to months These effects are critical in determining possible impacts on data.…”

“…The animals underwent implant surgery within 2-4 h of capture and were released 2-3 h after recovering from anesthesia. Surgeries were conducted as described in Horning et al [53], within a portable surgical container setup on the back deck of the 33-m research support vessel R/V Norseman. All ten animals also received two external satellite transmitters for postrelease studies of movement and dive behavior.…”