Population trends of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) with respect to remote sensing measures of chlorophyll-a in critical habitat
The recovery plan for Steller sea lions (SSL; Eumetopias jubatus ) suggests critical habitat should be enhanced to incorporate the spatio-temporal variation in dynamic oceanographic features that influence the prey and survival of SSL. It is necessary, therefore, to determine which features affect S...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Marine biology 2013, Vol.160 (1), p.195-209 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | The recovery plan for Steller sea lions (SSL;
Eumetopias jubatus
) suggests critical habitat should be enhanced to incorporate the spatio-temporal variation in dynamic oceanographic features that influence the prey and survival of SSL. It is necessary, therefore, to determine which features affect SSL. Demographics for sub-regions of the endangered, western stock of SSL were examined with respect to corresponding average, maximum, and variance of chlorophyll-
a
data (SeaWIFS), a proxy for primary productivity. Overall, SSL trends (2000–2008) and pup productivity (1999–2009) were related to maximum values of chl-
a
in critical habitat. Additionally, conditions in critical habitat appeared worse in areas of decline (i.e., dispersed patterns of chl-
a
hotspots and greater distances from SSL sites to productive areas). Although there may be a low feasibility of mitigating the effects of dynamic features on the recovery of SSL, the interactive effects of primary productivity and other stressors should be investigated for safeguarding their prey. |
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ISSN: | 0025-3162 1432-1793 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00227-012-2077-4 |