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Population trends of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) with respect to remote sensing measures of chlorophyll-a in critical habitat

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Abstract

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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Acknowledgments

We thank the entire staff of the Alaska Ecosystems Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory for their assistance with data collection, especially K. Sweeney. This manuscript was improved with constructive reviews by G. Duker, E. Gurarie, B. Fadely, T. Gelatt, K. Laidre, E. Sinclair, S. McDermott, and one anonymous reviewer. This work was conducted under Federal Marine Mammal Permits 358–1564 and 782–1532. The use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The findings and conclusions in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

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  1. National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA

    Michelle E. Lander, Lowell W. Fritz & Devin S. Johnson

  2. School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Miles G. Logsdon

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  1. Michelle E. Lander
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  2. Lowell W. Fritz
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  4. Miles G. Logsdon
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Correspondence to Michelle E. Lander.

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Communicated by U. Seibert.

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Lander, M.E., Fritz, L.W., Johnson, D.S. et al. Population trends of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) with respect to remote sensing measures of chlorophyll-a in critical habitat. Mar Biol 160, 195–209 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2077-4

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