Alaska Phocid Health and Disease

Polar Ecosystems Program research projects focus primarily on abundance, trends, distribution, health and condition, and foraging behavior of phocids (harbor, bearded, ringed, spotted, and ribbon seals) in Alaska. This database contains health and disease data obtained by analysis of different blood parameters, molecular analysis of swabs, stable isotope analysis, and contaminant analysis from seals across a variety of research projects. Biological samples (e.g. blood, tissue, hair, nasal swabs, and whiskers) have been collected from ribbon and spotted seals in the Bering Sea, bearded seals in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and harbor seals in the north Pacific and Bering Sea. Ribbon seal samples were collected in 2005-2010, 2014; spotted seal samples were collected in 2005-2010, 2014; bearded seal samples were collected in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014; ringed seal samples were collected in 2007-2009; harbor seal samples were collected in 2004-2006, 2012.

The purpose of this dataset is to store all health and disease data collected from various Polar Ecosystem Program research projects. To fulfill its stewardship mandates described by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS is required to have information on these species, including abundance, population trend, and extent of interactions with fisheries, seasonal movements, and distribution and harvest pressures. Little is known about the health of ice-associated seals of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and information about health of harbor seals in much of Alaska is also limited. Concerns about a warming climate and diminished sea ice in Alaska waters have led to an increased need for data on health parameters of seals in Alaska. Baseline data on condition and exposure to diseases may provide an important reference for detecting future climate-related changes in health.

Ziel, H.L., J.M. London, L. Rea, S.P Johnson, M. Barbieri, T. Goldstein, M.F. Cameron, and P.L. Boveng (2015): Alaska Phocid Food Habits. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. --doi:TBD, contact authors for updated citation details--

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

The data set is in the process of being archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Once the archival process is complete and verified, the data set will be publicly available. Acknowledge NOAA/NMFS/AFSC as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data. Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged prior to use.

The data set is in the process of being archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Once the archival process is complete and verified, the data set will be publicly available.

The data set is in the process of being archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Once the archival process is complete and verified, the data set will be publicly available.

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. Acknowledge NOAA/NMFS/AFSC or the specified citation as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data. Communication and collaboration with dataset authors is strongly encouraged.

no metadata access constraints

Metadata are subject to revision at any time and information within the metadata record should not be cited without author consent. While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

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Samples including blood, tissues, hair, and swabs are collected in accordance with established wildlife field techniques, veterinary practices, and under approved animal care protocols and research permits. Sterile techniques are employed if necessary during collection. Blood components and nasal swabs collected in the field are stored at a minimum of -20C while in the field, then stored at -80C for long-term storage at the lab. Skin tissue samples are stored in ethanol while in the field, then kept long-term at -80C in the lab. Whiskers and hair samples are stored in a container with desiccant to prevent samples from degrading. Sample analyses for disease, stable isotopes are conducted by experienced collaborators in laboratories that have well-tested protocols.

data are not automatically processed

IT Security and Contingency Plan for the system establishes procedures and applies to the functions, operations, and resources necessary to recover and restore data as hosted in the Western Regional Support Center in Seattle, Washington, following a disruption.

Health and disease parameters are derived from blood, skin tissue, whiskers, hair, and swabs collected from wild, free ranging phocids in Alaska. These biological samples are collected in the field and are then sent to various labs for analyses. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to phocine herpesvirus-1 at the Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis; for antibodies to Leptospira spp. at the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory at UC Davis; for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona at UC Davis; for antibodies to influenza A at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia; for antibodies to Brucella spp. at the Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; for antibodies to Coxiella burnetii at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and for antibodies to phocine distemper virus (PDV) at ??? Nasal swabs were examined by PCR for PDV and influenza at UC Davis. Blood components (whole blood, plasma) were analyzed for mercury content and haptoglobin content, and whiskers were analyzed for stable isotope analysis at the Marine Ecotoxicology and Trophic Assessment Laboratory at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.