Project Information

Title: Harbor Seal Recovery: Effects of Diet on Lipid Metabolism and Health 00341

Project Year and Number: 2000: 00341

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2001: 01341-CLO, 1999: 99341, 1998: 98341

Principal Investigator (PI): Mike Castellini (University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: Margaret Castellini, Steve Trumble

Research Location: Kenai Peninsula, Seward

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Harbor Seals

Abstract: This project will continue a long-term study currently underway at the Alaska SeaLife Center to quantify the impact of specific fish diets on the health and body condition of harbor seals. Even though health status biomarkers for marine mammals in Prince William Sound were established during field trials (Project /001), the critical test of how markers vary in an individual as a result of eating specific prey has not been conducted. The project will also establish whether specific diets are nutritionally adequate to maintain seal health by monitoring health parameters and measuring assimilation efficiency during feeding trials. While this project will focus on harbor seal health, the approach is applicable to other injured top predators.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Final Report: See Project 01341-CLO

Publications from this Project: None Available