Permanent marking in an endangered species: physiological response to hot branding in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

Mellish, Jo‐Ann E.; Hennen, Daniel; Thomton, Jamie D.; Petrauskas, Lisa; Atkinson, Shannon; Calkins, Donald G.

doi:10.1071/wr06073

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The handling and marking methods followed guidelines approved by the American Society of Mammalogists (Gannon et al 2007). Although its invasive nature has been highly criticized (Dalton 2005), other studies of pinnipeds have demonstrated that hot branding does not have a negative impact on individual survival, reproductive rates, or behavior (McMahon et al 2006b;Mellish et al 2007;Van Den Hoff et al 2004).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival Rates of the California Sea Lion,Zalophus californianus, in Mexico

et al. 2008

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival Rates of the California Sea Lion,Zalophus californianus, in Mexico

et al. 2008

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“…) or during branding procedures required for identification of individual animals (Mellish et al . ). Studies which measured serum cortisol in free‐ranging sea lions showed that concentrations varied by geographic region in Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus ) pups (Myers et al .…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Due to these constraints, most previous work on otariid endocrinology has used captive animals (e.g., Mashburn and Atkinson 2007). Stress has been measured in response to an acute or chronic stressor, such as short-term captivity with rehabilitated free-ranging sea lions (Petrauskas et al 2008) or during branding procedures required for identification of individual animals (Mellish et al 2007). Studies which measured serum cortisol in free-ranging sea lions showed that concentrations varied by geographic region in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups (Myers et al 2010) and between islands in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups in the Gulf of California (Padernera-Romano et al 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to capture stress involves multiple corticosteroids and is associated with serum thyroid hormone concentrations in Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi)

DeRango

Greig

Gálvez

et al. 2018

Marine Mammal Science

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Guadalupe fur seals are a threatened species with few breeding locations, which potentially makes them sensitive to environmental or anthropogenic stressors. We present the first study to quantify adrenal and thyroid function in this species in an effort to measure their stress response to capture. We analyzed a suite of corticosteroid hormones released over time during capture in both adult females (n = 10) and weanling pups (n = 26) during March 2016. Multiple corticosteroids were released during capture, and aldosterone was associated with the response to stress in adults only. These results suggest the regulation of aldosterone secretion in association with the HPA axis in otariids as reported in other marine mammals. Individuals varied markedly in the magnitude of their endocrine response to capture. A lower total integrated stress response to capture for both cortisol and corticosterone was associated with decreased concentrations of thyroid hormone T3 and elevated concentrations of reverse T3 (rT3), suggesting parallel downregulation of adrenal and thyroid endocrine axes in some individuals. A scaled body condition index was negatively associated with T3 and positively associated with rT3 in adults. Together these findings suggest utility in using endocrine responses to capture stress to evaluate individual and population health.

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“…Other studies (e.g. Mellish et al 2007, Hastings et al 2009) have shown that branding has little to no measurable impact on health or shortterm (12-wk) survival of juveniles or pups.…”

Section: Markingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent increases in survival of western Steller sea lions in Alaska and implications for recovery

Fritz¹,

Towell²,

Gelatt³

et al. 2014

Endang. Species. Res.

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Survival rates of endangered western stock Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus east of Samalga Pass (~170°W) have rebounded to nearly the same levels estimated for the 1970s prior to their decline in abundance. We estimated survival of sea lions hot-branded as pups (N = 1449) in 2000−2005 using Cormack-Jolly-Seber mark-recapture models and sighting data collected through 2011. Survivorship to Age 7 yr was greater for females (range: 0.352−0.386) than males (0.228−0.275), but was similar for each sex across the study area. Survival was lowest in the first year and increased through Age 4+ yr for both sexes in the eastern Gulf of Alaska (144−150°W). However, to the west, first-year survivorship was greater or equal to that of Year 2, and the difference was generally greater for males than females. Regional differences in the pattern of early survival could reflect spatial variability in early life history (e.g. duration of maternal care, growth rate) or habitat characteristics (e.g. prey availability, rates of predation). Population models indicate that natality of the increasing population east of Samalga Pass in 2000−2012 may not be significantly different from rates estimated for the 1970s prior to the decline in overall western abundance. Given current information, western Steller sea lions may satisfy the stock-wide demographic down-listing (to threatened status) criterion by 2015. However, due to continued abundance declines west of Samalga Pass, where no survival data are currently available, it is less certain that the western stock's regional down-listing criteria will be achieved.

show abstract

Permanent marking in an endangered species: physiological response to hot branding in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

Survival Rates of the California Sea Lion,Zalophus californianus, in Mexico

Survival Rates of the California Sea Lion,Zalophus californianus, in Mexico

Response to capture stress involves multiple corticosteroids and is associated with serum thyroid hormone concentrations in Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus philippii townsendi)

Recent increases in survival of western Steller sea lions in Alaska and implications for recovery

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