Persistent Organochlorine Contaminants and Enantiomeric Signatures of Chiral Pollutants in Ringed Seals ( Phoca hispida ) Collected on the East and West Side of the Northwater Polynya, Canadian Arctic

Hemograms from 20 netted and 6 shot ringed seals (Phoca hispida) were studied. Changes in red and white cell values in netted seals offer evidence for functioning sympathetic and adrenal–cortical stress pathways. The very high blood oxygen carrying capacity of ringed seals suggests that the animal is capable of deep or sustained dives. A technique for blood sampling from the vertebral "extradural" vein is described.

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Mercury Trends in Ringed Seals(Phoca hispida)from the Western Canadian Arctic since 1973: Associations with Length of Ice-Free Season

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es803293z ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 43 (10) ◽

pp. 3646-3651 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

A. Gaden ◽

S.H. Ferguson ◽

L. Harwood ◽

H. Melling ◽

G.A. Stern

Keyword(s):

Canadian Arctic ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

Ringed Seals

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SPATIAL TRENDS OF PERFLUOROALKYL COMPOUNDS IN RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) FROM THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ◽

10.1897/07-428.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 542 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Craig M. Butt ◽

Scott A. Mabury ◽

Michael Kwan ◽

Xiaowa Wang ◽

Derek C.G. Muir

Keyword(s):

Canadian Arctic ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

Ringed Seals ◽

Spatial Trends ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Compounds

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Failure of reproduction in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Amundsen Gulf, Northwest Territories in 1984-1987

NAMMCO Scientific Publications ◽

10.7557/3.2989 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 197 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Michael C S Kingsley ◽

Tim J Byers

Keyword(s):

Age Distribution ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Reproductive Activity ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

First Birth ◽

Ringed Seals ◽

Amundsen Gulf ◽

Almost All ◽

Term Data

Ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Thesiger Bay (about 71 °45'N, 125°00'W), in northwestern Amundsen Gulf in the western Canadian Arctic, suffered a failure of pup production in the years before 1987, starting probably in 1984. Pups taken in the summer hunt in the years before 1987 were reported scarce, and in 1987 were only 2.8% of the total 4+ and older. This low reproduction was associated with poor body condition in females and with an age distribution of adults that was weighted toward older animals (the modal year class was the 8+ class). An unusually high proportion of adult females had never reproduced; the median age of first birth was estimated at 8.6 years. By the summer of 1988 the age distribution had changed toward younger animals (modal age 5+), in better condition (by 20%), which had almost all ovulated. Pups were more numerous in the catch. In 1989 pups were very numerous in the catch (142% of the 4+ adults) and the estimated mean ageof first birth had decreased to 5.3 years; almost all 5-year-olds sampled had borne pups. A similar occurrence of low pup production had been documented in the early 1970s, and resumption of reproductive activity had then also been associated with an apparent turnover of the population, the mean age of adults decreasing from 16-17 years when reproduction was low to 10.9 years in the year before reproduction resumed. Long-term data on ringed seals in the western Canadian Arctic has shown an average age at first ovulation of about 5.55 years and first birth just before age 7, about 1 year older than seen in this sample in 1989. Our 1989 sample may have been able to mature earlier because food was temporarily more abundant, or breeding densities temporarily lower, than long-term average values.

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