Project Title

Collaborative Research: The drivers and role of immigration in the dynamics of the largest population of Weddell seals in Antarctica under changing conditions

Summary

Event Number:
B-009-M

Program Director:
Dr. Rebecca Gast

ASC POC/Implementer:
Jenny Cunningham / Dave Ferris

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Jay Rotella
rotella@montana.edu
Montana State University Bozeman
Department of Ecology
Bozeman, Montana

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Erebus Bay

Description

This is a continuation of a long-term study (1978-present) using an intensive mark-recapture tagging of Weddell seals in Erebus Bay to understand the population dynamics of a long-lived species. Recent results have documented strong annual variation in reproduction, abundance, and population composition. The proposed work will continue population monitoring and add components to evaluate the demographic role of immigrant mothers; evaluate possible drivers of annual variation in overall population dynamics; assess genetic differences between immigrant and locally born mothers; and document patterns of gene flow among seal colonies in the Ross Sea region. These new aspects will add basic and applied approaches to improve understanding of population structure, function, and genetics, as well as provide key information for predicting how the population will respond to environmental change.

Field Season Overview

Support scope is reduced this season due to COVID-19 impacts. Three participants will deploy to McMurdo Station in early October 2021 and will redeploy in mid-December 2021. The team will make day trips from McMurdo onto the sea ice to find, tag, and weigh seal pups with their mothers. They will work out of two "Apple" shelters placed near Big Razorback Island and Turtle Rock. The team will also make four to five helicopter trips to survey seal colonies and locate pups.

Deploying Team Members