Visual observations of Hawaiian monk seal behavioral interactions and contact rates to support NMFS efforts to mitigate the risk of possible disease outbreaks, collected on Oahu...

Infectious disease has the potential to pose serious risk to Hawaiian Monk Seal populations. HMSRP is currently researching and evaluating methods to minimize disease threats to this endangered population, including potential vaccination programs. Observation of seal behavior and social interactions will provide information critical to understanding contact rates between animals which will aid our efforts modeling epidemiological processes and planning vaccination or other disease risk mitigation strategies. To provide this crucial data on seal behavior and contact rates this project aims to:

• Describe the haul-out patterns and numbers of seals using haul-out beaches on Oahu in the MHI and Laysan in the NWHI.

• Document individual seal behavior and interactions between seals;

o especially with regard to different types of potentially infectious contacts.

o with attention to age/sex patterns that may help identify generalities of high-risk seals.

Better understand the behavioral ecology of monk seals, particularly social behavior and interactions between seals, this will aid research and recovery efforts related to epidemiology as well as seal aggression.

Contact POC with data requests.

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Data use for analysis or publication is expected to be conducted in collaboration with and proper attribution to NOAA scientists responsible for data collection.

Data were collected opportunistically at Hawaiian monk seal haulout locations on the island of Oahu and do not equally represent all size/sex classes, and may not be representative of other atolls/islands.

Data were collected opportunistically at Hawaiian monk seal haulout locations on the island of Oahu and do not equally represent all size/sex classes, and may not be representative of other atolls/islands.

Data should be reviewed before further analysis

Observations were made by 2 to 3 field personnel per study site, so that observations could be verified for coding consistency - behaviors were recorded using standardized codes to minimize subjective interpretation by observers. Data were entered and double checked upon entry.

Original files will be regularly backed up and stored on a secure server separate from publicly accessible files.

Ethographic data sheets were used to collect behavioral observations in the field. Data were then entered into spreadsheets saved as CSV files for downstream analysis.