Project Information

Title: Harbor Seal Recovery: Application of New Technologies for Monitoring Health 01558

Project Year and Number: 2001: 01558

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2003: 030558, 2002: 02558

Principal Investigator (PI): Shannon Atkinson (Alaska SeaLife Center)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Gulf of Alaska

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Harbor Seals

Abstract: This project will investigate the potential for new technologies to assess and monitor the endocrine and immune systems as diagnostic measures of the health of harbor seals. Analysis of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and cortisol (primary metabolic and gluconeogenic hormones), and measurement of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA) and the body burden of organochlorine contaminants will provide an assessment of both permanently captive seals as well as seals that are brought into the Alaska SeaLife Center for rehabilitation. The work will also employ community involvement through the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission. Once the profiles of healthy seals and those failing to thrive in their natural environment are assessed, these techniques will be evaluated for routine monitoring of free-ranging seals in an effort to restore this species.


Proposal: View (202 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY01: View (2,298 KB)
Final Report: See Project 030558

Publications from this Project: None Available