Measuring the effects of human activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)

The number of people travelling to Antarctica is growing, with much of the recent increase in visitor numbers attributable to an expansion in commercial tourism (Enzenbacher 1992; 1994). Most visitors to the region seek direct interactions with the wildlife and so visit breeding groups of seals and seabirds (Stonehouse 1965; Muller-Schwarze 1984). Invariably, this involves travelling to breeding sites by helicopter, inflatable motorised boat (e.g. zodiac) or over-snow vehicle, then making relatively close approaches on foot to photograph and observe the animals. At present, there is information to suggest that visitation can have a negative effect on some Antarctic wildlife, causing changes to behaviour, physiology and breeding success (Culik et al. 1989; Woehler et al. 1994, Giese 1996; Giese 1998, Giese and Riddle 1999). However, the responses of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) to human activity have never been systematically examined. As a result, any guidelines to control human activity around these animals are based either on opportunistic observations of seal response, and/or assumptions as to the level of disturbance seals are experiencing.

Therefore, the primary objective of the research is to measure the responses of Weddell seals to various human disturbance stimuli. In so doing, the research aims to make quality information available for the development of a comprehensive and scientifically based set of guidelines for managing interactions between people and Antarctic seals.

The research will adopt an experimental approach, whereby seals are experimentally exposed to particular types and intensities of human activity while their responses are objectively quantified. As far as possible, experiments are designed to replicate actual disturbances that Weddell seals are presently exposed to in Antarctica. As such, the responses of cow/pup pairs to approaches by pedestrians, over-snow vehicles and helicopters will be examined. In particular, experiments will investigate how approach distance (or altitude), approach speed, time of day, weather conditions and the time of the breeding season, influence the responses of Weddell Seals to these disturbance stimuli. Disturbance responses will be quantified by measuring the behaviour and heart rate of individual seals and the haul-out behaviour of entire groups of animals. Experiments will also be conducted to quantify the sound generated by vehicle operations in Antarctica to help determine whether anthropogenic noise effects vocal communication among Weddell seal, as indicated by changes in their calling rates.

Also see the metadata record entitled: Behavioural responses of Weddell seals to human activity.

At this stage most of the analysis is in progress and therefore it is not possible to provide complete data sets. These will be submitted upon the completion of the work. The attached word document summarises the experiments that have been completed during the three field seasons to date (up to the end of the 2002/2003 season), which included, the experiment type, location and sample size.

The two excel data sheets 'Experimental recording details' provide information on the video recordings that were made during the 2001/2002 and the 2002/2003 summers. These details state the experimental procedure, the details of the experimental, the time, date etc. They include Hi8 video camera recordings of Weddell seal behaviour and DAT recordings of vocalisations.

Biological data collected during the 2002/2003 summer include:

Collected 10 sample of blood (up to 50 ml each)

Collected 6 samples of urine

Collected 11 samples of fur

Collected 9 samples of blubber

Collected 6 samples of faecal swabs (from the ice or thermometer)

Conducted a post mortem on a recently deceased seal and collected organ and tissue samples.

These samples are being analysed by investigators in ASAC 1144. When results are available they will documented in either ASAC 1148 or 1144.

The fields in this dataset are:

Date

Time

Tape Number

Counter Number

Camera Number

Cow ID

New ID

Event

Respiration Rate

Heart Rate

Where Approached

Position of Pup

Distance of Closest Pair

Distance of Tide Crack

Location

Wind Direction

Cloud Cover

Temperature

Wind Speed

Conductivity

Salinity

Further data has been added to the archive for up to the end of the 2006. These include data files, plus scanned field notes taken during the project. Finally, video tapes relating to the project have also been stored in the Australian Antarctic Division's multimedia library.

Identification info

Alternate title: Measuring the effects of human activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Date (Publication): 2015-03-03

Edition: 1

Citation identifier

Dataset DOI

Title: Information and documentation - Digital object identifier system

Date (Publication): 2012-04-23

Citation identifier: ISO 26324:2012

Citation identifier: doi:10.4225/15/54F4FEC143176

Originator

Giese, M. and van Polanaen Petel, T.

Publisher

Australian Antarctic Data Centre

Principal investigator

GIESE, MELISSA

C/ Marine Species Section

GPO Box 787

Environment Australia

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

2601

Australia

+61 2 62741549

+61 2 6274 1006 (facsimile)

Principal investigator

VAN POLANEN PETEL, TAMARA

Centre for Environmental Management

Central Queensland University

PO Box 1319

Central Queensland University

Queensland

4680

Australia

+61 7 4970 7289

+61 7 4970 7207 (facsimile)

Collaborator

VAN POLANEN PETEL, TAMARA

Centre for Environmental Management

Central Queensland University

PO Box 1319

Central Queensland University

Queensland

4680

Australia

+61 7 4970 7289

+61 7 4970 7207 (facsimile)

Name: CAASM Metadata

Website: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/ASAC_1148_Weddells

Status: Completed

Custodian

AU/AADC > Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia - AADC, DATA OFFICER (DATA CENTER CONTACT)

Australian Antarctic Division

203 Channel Highway

Kingston

Tasmania

7050

Australia

+61 3 6232 3244

+61 3 6232 3351 (facsimile)

Topic category

Economy
Oceans

Extent

Description: Temporal Coverage

Temporal extent

TimePeriod: 2000-10-27 2000-12-10

Extent

Description: Temporal Coverage

Temporal extent

TimePeriod: 2001-10-25 2001-12-05

Extent

Description: Temporal Coverage

Temporal extent

TimePeriod: 2002-10-25 2003-01-15

Title: Minimising the Disturbance to Antarctic Wildlife

Date (Publication): 2001

Citation identifier: 1

Author

Giese, M.A and van Polanen Petel, T.D.

Name: Australian Antarctic Magazine

Page: 14-15

Title: Do Visitors Disturb Weddell Seals in Antarctica?

Date (Publication): 2001

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A. and Bryden, M.

Other citation details: Presented at the Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference, Phillip Island, Australia.

Title: Measuring the Effects of Human Activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 2001

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A. and Bryden, M.

Other citation details: Presented at the SCAR Biology Symposium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Title: A preliminary investigation of the effect of repeated pedestrian approaches to Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)

Date (Publication): 2008

Citation identifier: 112

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Wotherspoon, S and Hindell, M.A.

Name: Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Issue identification: 1

Page: 205-211

Title: The behavioural response of lactating Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) to over-snow vehicles: A Case Study

Date (Publication): 2007

Citation identifier: 85

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Wotherspoon, S and Hindell, M.A.

Name: Canadian Journal of Zoology

Issue identification: 4

Page: 488-496

Title: An Assessment of the Audibility of Sound from Human Transport by Breeding Weddell Seals Leptonychotes weddellii

Date (Publication): 2006

Citation identifier: 33

Author

van Polanen Petel, T., Terhune, J.M., Hindell, M.A. and Giese, M.A.

Name: Wildlife Research

Page: 275-291

Title: Measuring the Effects of Human Activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Antarctica

Date (Publication): 2005

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D.

Publisher

Monash University

Other citation details: Doctoral thesis

Title: Immobilisation of Free-living Weddell Seals Leptonychotes weddellii using Midazolam and Isoflurane.

Date (Publication): 2004

Citation identifier: 28

Author

Bodley, K., van Polanen Petel, T. and Gales, N.

Name: Polar Biology

Page: 631-636

Title: The Behavioural Responses of Lactating Weddell Seals and their Pups (Leptonychotes weddellii) to Pedestrian Approaches.

Date (Publication): 2005

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Hindell, M.A., and Wotherspoon, S.

Other citation details: Presented at the International Wildlife Management Society Conference, Hobart, Australia.

Title: Behavioural Responses of Lactating Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) to Human Activity.

Date (Publication): 2004

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Hindell, M.A., and Wotherspoon, S.

Other citation details: Presented at the Australian Marine Science Association Conference, Hobart, Australia.

Title: Measuring the Effects of Human Activity on Weddell Seals in Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 2003

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Hindell, M.A., and Riddle, M.J.

Other citation details: Presented at the 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Title: The Behavioural Responses of Lactating Weddell Seals and their Pups (Leptonychotes weddellii) to Pedestrian Approaches.

Date (Publication): 2005

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A., Hindell, M.A., and Wotherspoon, S.

Other citation details: Presented at the Society of Marine Mammal Conference, San Diego, USA.

Title: Do Visitors Disturb Weddell Seals in Antarctica?

Date (Publication): 2001

Author

van Polanen Petel, T.D., Giese, M.A. and Bryden, M.

Other citation details: Presented at the Southern Hemisphere Marine Mammal Conference, Phillip Island, Australia

Title: Are Humans in Antarctica Having an Effect on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii)?

Date (Publication): 2001