| 1. |
- Berger, Michelle L., et al.
(författare)
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Alternative and legacy flame retardants in marine mammals from three northern ocean regions
- 2023
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 335, s. 122255-122255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Flame retardants are globally distributed contaminants that have been linked to negative health effects in humans and wildlife. As top predators, marine mammals bioaccumulate flame retardants and other contaminants in their tissues which is one of many human-imposed factors threatening population health. While some flame retardants, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), have been banned because of known toxicity and environmental persistence, limited data exist on the presence and distribution of current-use alternative flame retardants in marine mammals from many industrialized and remote regions of the world. Therefore, this study measured 44 legacy and alternative flame retardants in nine marine mammal species from three ocean regions: the Northwest Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic allowing for regional, species, age, body condition, temporal, and tissue comparisons to help understand global patterns. PBDE concentrations were 100–1000 times higher than the alternative brominated flame retardants (altBFRs) and Dechloranes. 2,2′,4,5,5′-pentabromobiphenyl (BB-101) and hexabromobenzene (HBBZ) were the predominant altBFRs, while Dechlorane-602 was the predominant Dechlorane. This manuscript also reports only the second detection of hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) in marine mammals. The NW Atlantic had the highest PBDE concentrations followed by the Baltic and Arctic which reflects greater historical use of PBDEs in North America compared to Europe and greater industrialization of North America and Baltic countries compared to the Arctic. Regional patterns for other compounds were more complicated, and there were significant interactions among species, regions, body condition and age class. Lipid-normalized PBDE concentrations in harbor seal liver and blubber were similar, but HBBZ and many Dechloranes had higher concentrations in liver, indicating factors other than lipid dynamics affect the distribution of these compounds. The health implications of contamination by this mixture of compounds are of concern and require further research.
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| 2. |
- Granquist, Sandra Magdalena, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Seasonal, meteorological, tidal and diurnal effects on haul-out patterns of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Iceland
- 2016
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Ingår i: Polar Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0722-4060 .- 1432-2056. ; 39:12, s. 2347-2359
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is of critical importance to identify factors that affect harbour seal haul-out patterns to improve the accuracy of harbour seal censuses. In this study, haul-out patterns of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were investigated during different conditions at several major haul-out sites on Vatnsnes peninsula, NW Iceland (65400N and 20480W), over the 2008–2011 period. A seasonal haul-out pattern was detected among the seals, with the maximum number of seals on land found in July for most of the sites. Analyses of data for harbour seals on Vatnsnes indicate that the main pupping period occurs during late May to the beginning of June and moulting during late July to early August. Abundance at the sites increased with rising air temperature and decreased with increased windspeed and rising tides. However, no evidence that precipitation or cloud cover affected haul-out behaviour of the seals was detected. The diel haul-out pattern was investigated thoroughly in one of the haul-out sites and the results underlined the effect of tidal flucturation, air temperature and wind direction on the haul-out behaviour of harbour seals in the area. Results from this study can be used to improve the survey design when estimating the population size of harbour seals in Iceland and applied more broadly to the study of haul-out behaviour of harbour seals.
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| 3. |
- Granquist, Sandra Magdalena, et al.
(författare)
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The effect of land based seal watching tourism on the haul-out behaviour of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Iceland
- 2014
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Ingår i: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 156, s. 85-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of land-based seal watching on the haul-out pattern of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) was investigated between June and August of 2008-2010 on Vatnsnes, NW Iceland. The results showed that the behaviour and spatial haul-out pattern of seals was affected by the tourists. In 2009 the seals were more likely to be vigilant during periods when tourists had access to the area, compared to a period when tourists were not allowed in the area. Also, in 2010 the likeliness of the seals being vigilant increased as the number of tourists in the area increased. In addition, seals were more likely to be vigilant when tourists behaved in an active way. During the post weaning period, which coincided with the peak of the tourist season, a significantly higher proportion of seals hauled out on the skerry located farthest away from land, compared to a skerry closer to land. Seals also preferred to haul out further away from land when the number of tourists in the area increased. Single tourists and couples behaved more passively compared to families and tourist groups of more than two adults. All tourist group types were significantly more active in an approaching zone than in the seal watching zone. Education of tourists, for example through a code of conduct built on these results, is advisable to minimise disturbance of seals in the area.
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| 4. |
- Marschall, Sarah, et al.
(författare)
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Interpretation in wildlife tourism : Assessing the effectiveness of signage on visitor behaviour at a seal watching site in Iceland
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Outdoor Recreation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-0780 .- 2213-0799. ; 17, s. 11-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effectiveness of interpretive signage as a means of modifying visitor behaviour to reduce negative impacts on wildlife was tested empirically at a seal watching site on Vatnsnes peninsula in North West Iceland. From July to September 2014, the actions of 2440 visitors were observed and their behaviour recorded. To test the importance of how interpretive information is presented, signs with either ontological ( instructions without explanation) or teleological ( instructions with explanation) information were positioned along the path towards the site. A control group, to which no signs were provided, was also observed. Our results show that the majority of the tested behaviour was influenced when signs were present and that under some conditions teleological signs were more effective than ontological. The type of visitor group was found to significantly influence behaviour, with families having the most intrusive behaviour compared to singles, couples or other groups. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of how interpretative signage can modify tourist behaviour to facilitate sustainable wildlife tourism. The use of teleological signs for managing wildlife tourism activities is recommended because they are more effective than ontological signs in terms of modifying the general visitor behaviour. In addition, signage and other management strategies should address the different needs and responses relevant to the nature of the tourist group visiting the site. Special focus should be placed on families when signs are designed because this group type showed the highest probability of causing disturbance at the site. Management implications: In this paper we show that interpretation through signage can be a useful tool for sustainable development and management of wildlife watching. We recommend the following when designing interpretive signs: Visitors should be provided with teleological, rather than ontological, information. Signs should include illustrations with informative text. The information provided should take care to address families because they show the most intrusive behaviour. Information should be offered in multiple languages, as appropriate, to make information accessible to the greatest number of visitors. The content of the information should include practical information about wildlife protection, take home messages and comparisons between wildlife and humans to enable visitors to more readily establish a psychological connection with the wildlife. Although signage has many advantages, other methods for conveying information, such as guided tours with educated guides, are suggested as a way of supplementing signs.
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