Spatial trends of perfluoroalkyl compounds in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the 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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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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VARIABILITY IN THE BLUBBER FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) ACROSS THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

Marine Mammal Science ◽

10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00101.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 241-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Gregory W. Thiemann ◽

Sara J. Iverson ◽

Ian Stirling

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid Composition ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Acid Composition ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

Ringed Seals

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Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp.nov. and A. arcticensis sp.nov. (Eucestoda: Tetrabothriidae) in ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) and harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) from high-latitude seas of eastern Canada and the Arctic basin

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z95-005 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 34-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eric P. Hoberg ◽

Lena N. Measures

Keyword(s):

High Latitude ◽

Genital Atrium ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Arctic Basin ◽

The Arctic ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Ringed Seals ◽

Phoca Groenlandica ◽

Eastern Canadian Arctic

Anophryocephalus inuitorum sp.nov. and A. arcticensis sp.nov. are described from ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) in the eastern Canadian Arctic; the latter species is also reported from harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Anophryocephalus inuitorum is most similar to A. skrjabini, but can be distinguished by fewer testes (14–27) and smaller dimensions of the strobila, neck (3.0–5.9 mm long), and cirrus sac (31–70 μm long), diameter of the genital atrium (44–68 μm), and length of the male canal (23–42 μm long). Anophryocephalus arcticensis resembles A. nunivakensis in the structure of the scolex, but is readily distinguished by a longer neck (8.9–14.7 mm), an elongate cirrus sac (60–98 × 44–73 μm) with a substantially thicker muscular wall, a more globular vitelline gland, and larger embryophores (29–41 μm long) and oncospheres (24–34 μm long). These are the first species of Anophryocephalus to be described from phocines in the eastern Canadian Arctic, and are included in a revised key for the genus.

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Comparison of Heavy Metals in Two Groups of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) from the Canadian Arctic

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f89-198 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 1558-1563 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

R. Wagemann

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Reference Group ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

Phoca Hispida ◽

Mine Area ◽

Ringed Seals ◽

Lead Zinc ◽

Zinc Mine ◽

The Mean ◽

Positive Correlations

Heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn) and Se and As were determined in liver, kidney, and muscle of ringed seals captured near a lead–zinc mine in the Strathcona Sound area, and in a reference group from Admiralty Inlet in the Canadian Arctic. The mean concentrations of Pb in liver and muscle and Se in muscle were higher in seals shot near the mine area than in a reference group shot 50–75 km from this area, notwithstanding large variances in metal concentrations arising from inter-metal and Hg–age and Cd–age positive correlations. Strong positive correlations were found between age of animals in the reference group and Cd in kidney and Hg in liver between Se and Hg in liver, and a negative one between age and Cu in the three tissues examined. Nearly halt of the individuals in the mine-area group were shown, by multiple linear regression, to have higher Hg, Pb, or Cd than the reference group. High Cd concentrations were found in tissues of seals from both groups.

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