Health Status of Young Alaska Steller Sea Lion Pups (Eumetopias jubatus) as Indicated by Blood Chemistry and Hematology
- Authors: L.D. Rea, M.A Castellini, B.S. Fadley, and T.R. Loughlin
- Pub. no.: RP-98-06
- Year: 1998
- No. pages: 7
- Price: Single copies free
Description
One proposed cause of recent declines of Alaska Steller sea lions is failure of juveniles to recruit into breeding populations due to nutritionally or physiologically compromised pups. The authors analyzed blood chemistry data from young pups of this endangered species in the Gulf of Alaska (high rates of decline), the Eastern Aleutians (low rates of decline and stable), and southeast Alaska (stable and increasing). Blood chemistry and hematology data showed that pups less than one month old from areas of population decline were not nutritionally compromised; in fact they were healthy and robust. This study does not address whether healthy pups will be successfully reared by the female to weaning or whether pups will be able to forage effectively at sea on their own. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 120(Part A):617-623, 1998.
