ELEPHANT SEALS - ENVIRONMENT
News: You
think you need more sleep? Tell that to an elephant seal
What's in the news?
● Scientists
have used a group of elephant seals to observe changes in the circulation of
the world's oceans, reveals a recent research.
Key takeaways:
● The
international researchers, led by the University of Tasmania’s Dr. Guy
Williams, used sensors attached to 20 elephant seals to measure water
temperature and salinity in the Antarctica, Xinhua news agency reported.
● The
research showed how “bottom water” - a dense type of water created by salt
leaching out of sea water when it freezes over during the Antarctic winter - is
being affected by melting ice shelves.
Elephant Seals:
● Elephant
seals are very large, oceangoing earless
seals in the genus Mirounga.
● Both
species, the northern elephant seal and the southern elephant seal were hunted
to the brink of extinction for oil by the end of the 19th century, but their
numbers have since recovered.
Specific Features:
● They
are the largest extant carnivorans,
weighing up to 5,000 kilograms.
● Elephant
seals are known for their unique lifestyle, spending most of their lives at sea and only coming ashore for breeding
and molting.
● They
can hold their breath for more than 100
minutes longer than any other non-cetacean.
● They
are known for their deep dives, with
some individuals reaching depths of up to 2,000 meters and staying underwater
for over two hours at a time.
● These
seals play an important role in the marine ecosystem, as they are a key
predator of squid and fish.
● Additionally,
their nutrient-rich feces contribute to the growth of phytoplankton, which form
the base of the marine food chain.
Northern Elephant Seals:
● Northern
elephant seals are found across the Pacific
coast of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
● They
generally breed and give birth in California and Baja California. That too
usually on offshore islands from December to March.
● They
fast during mating season, losing perhaps a third of their body weight.
Southern Elephant Seals:
● Southern
elephant seals are the largest of all
seals. They live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters that feature
brutally cold conditions.
● Southern
elephant seals breed on land but spend their winters in the frigid Antarctic
waters near the Antarctic pack ice.
IUCN Status: Least Concern