Harp Seal Research Paper

Have you ever thought about joining the Navy SEALs? About 90% of people who try and join the SEALs drop out (“Three most Dangerous”). The SEALs need to pass a training before the actual SEAL training called Buds. Even if one makes it through the pre buds training, it is still unlikely one will make it through Buds. The Navy SEALs is one of the hardest branches of the military to get into, but with very hard work, one could receive the honor of being a SEAL.

The most important thing to a harbor seals survival is its habitat, which determines shelter, adaptations, evolution, and the type of food available. Harbor seals live in shallow waters of coastal areas, sandy beaches, rocky islands, mudflats, and bays.

The problem with plastic ending up in the ocean is that marine life is being harmed by the presence of it. A study done on the harbor seals in the Netherlands found that more than 12% had plastic in the digestive system (California Coastal Commission). The list of affected species indicates that marine debris is affecting a significant number of species. It affects at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species, and 43% of all marine mammal species (Save our shores). The problem is underestimated because the marine life that ingests plastic or dies from entanglement often goes undiscovered due to the vastness of the ocean, as they either sink or are eaten by predators before they are discovered (Plastic Debris). The potential harm from ingestion of plastics is not restricted to seabirds. Plastic bags drifting on ocean currents resemble the prey of turtles. There is evidence that their survival is being hindered by plastic debris with young sea turtles being vulnerable (Ocean pollution). Over the past 20 years polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have polluted marine food webs at an increasing rate, and are prevalent in seabirds. Though their adverse effects may not always be apparent, PCBs lead to reproductive disorders, increase the risk of disease and alter hormone levels. These chemicals have a detrimental effect on marine organisms even at very low levels and plastic pellets could be a route for PCBs into marine food

Killer whales are one of the most fascinating displays of ocean life. The killer whale has characteristics that are important to its survival in the ocean. It is interesting to know that killer whales have a plentiful diet. It is astounding to see how killer whales behave in the ocean. I plan to tell you about the killer whale, its characteristics, its diet, and its behavior in the ocean as well as the predation of the orca.

Have you ever wondered how different and alike bottlenose dolphins and harp seals are?Bottlenose dolphins and harp seals have different body shapes,yet they have the same color.A bottlenose dolphin and a harp seal have different lengths and weights.

The population decline in monk seals is due to several different factors with the biggest reason due to the low pup and juvenile survival rates (Curtice et al, 2011). At the Kure Atoll on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, 32 pups were observed in 1964 and 30 pups were observed in 1965. Of these pups born, all but one died or disappeared within 60 days after birth. This was also seen in the 1970’s at Green Island and Kure Atoll, where a mean population of 17 and 14 seals, respectively, was counted on these beaches, with a birth total of 10 showing a population decline of 70% (Gilmartin et al, 2011). The juvenile survival rate is still seen today with one in five monk seals surviving to the reproductive age, with one year old seals having the highest mortality rates (Norris et al, 2011).

They weigh about 300 pounds and males quiet larger than females, They come in various colors example, gray, white, yellow and many more. Harbor seals eat fish, and their blubber helps to keep them warm. Their skin is made for them to swim vividly in the water.

Harbor seal Harbor seal is pretty small when compared to other seal species. Harbor seals usually come in dark brown, tan and different shades of grey. They mainly eat fish and shellfish. The harbor seal fits in as a secondary consumer, meaning it is a carnivore and eats primary consumers such as fish.

The different types of seals are the Leopard Seal, Harp Seal, Gray Seal, Northern Elephant Seal, Southern Elephant Seal, Weddell Seal, Hawaiian Monk Seal, and the Mediterranean Monk Seal. Seals have quite a spread when it comes to their habitats. They can be found in the cold regions of the Antarctic, to warm, extremely sunny places. They are able to survive in the icy conditions due to the layers of blubber on their bodies that keeps them warm. The seals that live in colder regions are heavier in size. Seals are breathtaking, more people should educate themselves on seals so the seals can be

The negative human impacts on harbor seals are devastating, and there are yet to be any major positive impacts. In the 1900s, fur traders would hunt harbor seal pups that were less than four weeks old for their fine coats, which were highly valued. This led to a decrease in the harbor seal population. Harbor seals were also hunted by salmon fishermen who saw the seals as competitors for the fish. After a while many harbor seal populations had to abandon traditional haul-out areas. This was sad for the seals, because the main diet of a harbor seal is fish.

Sea Otter's are members of the weasel family can be found along the coast of North America. A sea otter spends most of its time in the water and the rest of time it comes to land to sleep. Sea Otter floats on its back to the land and sleeps like that also. They have webbed feet. Their fur keeps them warm and it doesn't shed. Sea Otter's is one of the smallest marine mammal. They have a large amount of different adaptations. These different adaptations help them survive in their marine environment. Their long whiskers help the, detect vibrations in water and sensitive forepaws. Their claws helps them groom themselves and capture their prey underwater. The male is bigger than the female. Sea Otters have a high metabolism they eat 25% of their weight in food each day . They are also known for eating a clam and a rock that has been gently caught from the ocean floor. The otters place the rock on their chest and constantly smash the shellfish against it until it breaks. Once its broken they eat it . They also like to eat crabs , squid , octopus, and fish.

Leopard seals can reach up to 12 feet long and weigh over 1000 pounds. Leopard seals teeth are about 1 inch long. Leopard seals alo typically hunt alone. The leopard seal can also swim up to 24 miles per hour. Leopard seals also have a life expectancy of 12-14 years. They are the third largest seals in the world. Leopard seals also play with their food, they will chase penguins back and forth towards the shore until the penguin tires out.

The seal lion population has decreased by eighty-percent. The weird thing is that there is no bodies to prove that the seal lions are gone. Some of the causes of the decrease could be fisherman, pollution, and killer whales. The sea lions could also be starving to death. The fisherman are taking all of their sources of food. But, in Alaska the sea lions are thriving and the whales are not. Thirty years ago ninety percent of the whale population was gone in Alaska. This resulted in an abundance of more krill and plankton, which lead to more pollock and herring. The sea lions ate the herring the most as it was healthier and kept them full. But, when the herring population decreased the sea lions had to eat pollock. Pollock is the “junk food

Ribbon seals are among the most striking and easily recognizable seals in the world. They can be identified by the distinctive light-colored bands or “ribbons” that encircle their neck, each foreflipper, and hips. Adult males are the most striking, having a dark brown to black pelage with white ribbons, while adult females range from silvery-grey to dark brown with paler ribbons. Juvenile ribbon seals are typically a light brown dorsally, light grey ventrally, and have indistinct ribbons that usually develop after two to three years as the seals mature. Ribbon seals molt their coat of hair annually, beginning in May and finishing in July, with younger individuals molting earliest. Ribbon seal pups

The Atlantic Walrus can be best described as a very large seal with 2 large tusks. No other marine mammal has these two characteristics (Burt,1952). The most distinguishing trait of the Walrus are their long tusks that are actually enlarged, upper canine teeth that continue to grow throughout the animal’s entire life and can reach a maximum