South American Fur Seal Pups Research Articles

Maternal care strategies differentially optimize the health and immunity of male and female South American fur seal pups

Maternal care strategies differentially optimize the health and immunity of male and female South American fur seal pups

Re‐evaluating the population size of South American fur seals and conservation implications

Abstract South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are widely distributed, yet surprisingly little is known about their ecology. In particular, population data are sparse and outdated for many breeding locations, including the Falkland Islands. Data deficiency impedes the development of coherent conservation and management strategies. To address knowledge gaps, for the first time since 1965 an archipelago‐wide census of South American fur seals breeding at the Falkland Islands was undertaken, which provided the first pup abundance estimate since 1926 – data that are critical for assessing population trends. In total, 36,425 South American fur seal pups were counted at the Falkland Islands in 2018, a greater than four‐fold increase since the last census, and far greater than the 7,990 pups counted in Uruguay, which was presumed to be the largest South American fur seal population in the world. Hence, based on pup abundance, the Falkland Islands is presently the largest population of South American fur seals, even when considering a correction factor of 3.9 that was applied to pup counts in Uruguay, which yielded an estimated 31,160 pups. The results redefine South American fur seal abundance, the contribution of breeding locations (Falkland Islands, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile) and the distribution of breeding colonies at the Falkland Islands, which has far reaching implications for conservation and management. In particular, the present study has effectively doubled the Atlantic population size of the species, which is now estimated to comprise about 76,000 pups, of which the Falkland Islands accounts for 48% and Uruguay 41%. Accordingly, changes in the number of South American fur seals breeding at the Falkland Islands will influence the global population trends and conservation status of the species. Monitoring South American fur seals breeding at the Falkland Islands is therefore crucial to understand the impacts of anthropogenic pressures, such as fisheries, and to inform management and conservation policy. The results provide a baseline from which to measure changes in abundance.

Kelp and dolphin gulls cause perineal wounds in South American fur seal pups (Arctocephalus australis) at Guafo Island, Chilean Patagonia.

During five reproductive seasons, we documented the presence, extent and origin of perineal wounds in South American fur seal pups (Arctocephalus australis) on Guafo Island, Northern Chilean Patagonia. The seasonal prevalence of perineal wounds ranged from 5 to 9%, and new cases were more common at the end of the breeding season (February), when pups were on average two months old and were actively expelling hookworms (Uncinaria sp). Histologically, wounds corresponded to marked ulcerative lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic dermatitis with granulation tissue and mixed bacterial colonies. In 2015 and 2017, kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and dolphin gulls (Leucophaeus scoresbii) were observed picking and wounding the perineal area of marked pups. This behaviour occurred more frequently after the pups' defecation, when sea gulls engaged in consumption of pups' faeces. The affected pups usually had moderate to marked hookworm infections along with bloody diarrhoea and anaemia. Pups with severe wounds (23% of affected animals) had swollen perineal areas and signs of secondary systemic bacterial infection. We propose that seagulls on Guafo Island have learned to consume remains of blood and parasites in the faeces of pups affected by hookworm infection, causing perineal wounds during this process. We conclude that this perineal wounding is an unintentional, occasional negative effect of an otherwise commensal gull–fur seal relationship.

Reproductive Tract Histology in South American Fur Seal Pups (Arctophoca australis).

In the present study, a detailed histological description of the female reproductive tract of South American fur seal (Arctophoca australis) pups has been conducted. The uterine tube was covered by cuboidal to columnar epithelium; nerve fibers were present in the mesosalpinx and beneath the muscular layer. The uterus was bipartitus; the endometrial surface of the horns was lined by a simple cuboidal or columnar epithelium with deep tubular glands; caudally ("the transition area"), the epithelium changed to pseudostratified columnar, few tubular glands were present and the myometrium increased in width. A bistratified epithelium internally coated the uterine body, whereas it changed to cylindrical stratified epithelium with a highly vascularized lamina propria and a strong muscular layer in the cervix; no endometrial glands were observed in this region. From the transition area of the uterus to the vagina there were several nerve fibers and ganglia belonging to the uterovaginalis plexus. In the vestibule, hymenal folds were poorly developed; adnexa structures included the major vestibular glands and a neurovascular structure similar to the vestibular bulb. Minor vestibular glands were associated with the clitoris. The skin of the perineum was lined by a keratinized stratified epithelium, pigmented, with sebaceous glands, sweat glands and hair follicles. This is the first detailed histological description of the reproductive tract of South American fur seal pups, including the glandular adnexa and nerve structures. These results contribute to the reproductive biology in Pinniped species, and give a better understanding of the utero-placental perfusion mechanism during diving. Anat Rec, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 300:600-613, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hookworm Infection in South American Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus australis) Pups.

Tissues of South American fur seal pups naturally infected with hookworms ( Uncinaria sp) were examined. Hookworm infection was found in nearly all pups examined (132/140, 94%), and hookworm enteritis with secondary bacteremia was considered the cause of death in 46 (35%) pups. Common findings in these pups included severe hemorrhagic enteritis and numerous (mean intensity = 761.8) hookworms in the jejunum. Hookworms were recovered from the abdominal cavity in 12 of 55 pups (22%) examined through peritoneal wash; these pups had an average of 1343.3 intestinal hookworms and marked fibrinohemorrhagic peritonitis. In all pups that died as a consequence of hookworm infection, the intestinal villi were short, blunt, and fused, and there were variable numbers of free and intrahistiocytic gram-negative bacteria in submucosal hookworm feeding tracks, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, blood vessels, and liver sinusoids. Pups that died of causes unrelated to the hookworm infection (trauma) had hookworm feeding tracks confined to the apical portions of the mucosa, and moderate to marked catarrhal eosinophilic enteritis. The number of hookworms was negatively correlated with intestinal villous length and number of leukocytes in the intestine. Pups with hookworm peritoneal penetration had nematodes with little or no blood in the hookworm intestine, suggesting that lack of food for the nematode could be associated with peritoneal penetration. Findings suggest that the initial burden of larval infection, the level of the host tissue response, or a combination determine the number of nematodes in the intestine, the severity of hookworm tissue damage, and pup mortality.

Encephalitozoonosis in 2 South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) Pups

Cerebral and disseminated encephalitozoonosis was diagnosed by histopathology, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry in 2 free-ranging South American fur seal pups found dead at Guafo Island (43°33'S 74°49'W) in southern Chile. In the brain, lesions were characterized by random foci of necrosis with large numbers of macrophages containing numerous microsporidial organisms within parasitophorous vacuoles. In addition, occasional histiocytes loaded with numerous mature and immature microsporidia spores consistent with Encephalitozoon sp were observed in pulmonary alveolar septa, splenic red pulp, glomerular capillaries, and proximal renal tubules by Gram and immunohistochemical stains. To our knowledge, microsporidial infection in a marine mammal species has not been previously reported.

Capture‐induced stress cardiomyopathy in South American fur seal pups (Arctophoca australis gracilis)

Capture‐induced stress cardiomyopathy in South American fur seal pups (<i>Arctophoca australis gracilis</i>)

Ovarian Follicular Morphometry of South American Fur Seal Pups (Arctophoca australis)

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphometric characteristics of ovarian follicles and their distribution in the ovarian cortex in South American fur seal pups (Arctophoca australis). Samples were obtained from animals stranded in the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. Ovaries were dissected, fixed, weighed, and processed by standard histological techniques. Ovarian weight increased with pup age and body length. There was an increase in the diameter of the oocytes (22.24 ± 0.6 to 68.2 ± 5.3 µm), the nuclei (10.04 ± 0.2 to 20.7 ± 1.6 µm), and follicles (30.4 ± 1.2 to 252.6 ± 53.6 µm) of type 1 to type 5 follicles; there was a wide range of variation in the diameter of follicle type 4 and 5. Granulosa layer thickness increased between follicles type 3 and 4, whereas between type 4 and 5 there was a reduction. Thecal layer from follicles type 3 and 4 consisted of 1-2 layers of cells, whereas type 5 showed an increase in thickness (3.13 ± 0.3 to 13.8 ± 5.2 µm). Follicles type 1 and 2 occupied superficial regions within the ovarian cortex while the remaining follicles had a deeper location. These results provide a basis for comparison with females of other age categories as well as follicular dynamics studies in South American fur seals.

Causes of mortality in South American fur seal pups (Arctophoca australis gracilis) at Guafo Island, southern Chile (2004–2008)

AbstractAs part of population dynamics studies of the South American fur seal (Arctophoca australis gracilis) rookery at Punta Weather in Guafo Island (43°36'S, 74°43’W), the causes and extent of pup mortality were monitored. During four breeding seasons, daily counts of live and dead pups were carried out to determine pup production and pup mortality. Dead pups were retrieved from the rookery to perform necropsies. The mean pup production was 1,735.5 ± 336 pups and the mean pup mortality up to 12 wk old was 6.0%± 2.6%. The major causes of death were enteritis with microscopic lesions of bacteremia (28.4%), starvation (23.5%), drowning (21%), trauma (19.8%), and stillbirths (2.5%). Enteritis with microscopic lesions of bacteremia, and starvation had higher incidence during January (beginning and middle of the breeding season) while most trauma and drowning occurred during February (end of the breeding season). In the 2006–2007 breeding season there was an increase in mortality due to starvation and trauma. Most pup deaths at Guafo Island are generated by extrinsic factors; therefore, additional studies that assess the impact of environmental changes and fishing activities, are needed in order to determine the exact causes of the decline of this species along Chilean coasts.

Pathological Findings in South American Fur Seal Pups ( Arctocephalus australis gracilis) found Dead at Guafo Island, Chile

During four breeding seasons (2004-2008), 78 necropsy examinations were performed on South American fur seal pups (Arctocephalus australis gracilis) found dead on Guafo Island, southern Chile (43°36'S, 74°43'W). Tissue samples from 65 pups were examined microscopically. The primary causes of death were enteritis with microscopical lesions of bacteraemia (28.2%), starvation (23.1%), drowning (21.8%), trauma (19.2%) and stillbirth (2.6%). Those pups with enteritis and microscopical lesions of bacteraemia had haemorrhagic enteritis (100%), interstitial pneumonia (86%), periportal hepatitis (73%) and vasculitis (18%). The pups that died from starvation had atrophy of hepatocytes (61%) and cholestasis (61%). The pups that drowned had bronchoalveolar oedema (65%) and foreign bodies in the airways (65%). In animals that died from trauma, the main lesions were skull fractures (67%). This range of pathological findings is within what would be expected in a healthy otariid breeding colony.

Sharp accumulation of heavy metals after weaning in the South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis

4 Direccion Nacional de Recursos Acuaticos del Uruguay, Av. Constituyente 1497, 5to Piso, 11200, Montevideo, Uruguay ABSTRACT: In marine mammals, the transition period between lactation and independent feeding pro- vides an opportunity to evaluate the influence of the first solid food on heavy metal concentrations in their tissues at early stages of their life cycle. The aim of the present study was to compare mercury, cad- mium, zinc and copper levels in lactating and recently weaned South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis pups from Uruguay and northern Argentina, in order to evaluate the heavy metal intake through solid food shortly after weaning. Heavy metal concentrations in liver, muscle and kidney were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mercury levels in suckling pups reached up to 0.60 and 0.40 µg g -1 wet weight in liver and kidney tissues, respectively. This group presented lower levels of cadmium, with maximum concentrations of 0.11 µg g -1 and 0.17 µg g -1 in liver and kidney tissues, re- spectively. Weaned pups showed significantly higher levels of both cadmium (liver = 6.93 ± 4.73 µg g -1 ; kidney = 20.89 ± 5.00 µg g -1 ) and mercury (liver = 3.91 ± 1.16 µg g -1 , kidney = 0.57 ± 0.15 µg g -1 ). These significantly higher levels, and a clear distributional pattern between organs, strongly suggest a rapid intake of heavy metals during the first months after weaning. The presence of mercury and cadmium in weaned pups also indicates relevant early predation on fish and squid, representing a considerable con- tribution of both metals, but mainly cadmium, for South American fur seal pups. This sharp accumula- tion could be used as an indicator of the weaning process. Furthermore, heavy metal levels of pups would constitute a relevant baseline level in the early life of the South American fur seal.

Protecting Fur Seals During Spill Response: Lessons from the San Jorge (Uruguay) Oil Spill

ABSTRACT Nearly 5,000 2- to 3-month old South American fur seal pups were oiled and/or died as a result of a February 1997, 5,000-metric ton crude oil spill near Punta del Este, Uruguay. After consultation with international experts, the Uruguayan government commissioned small teams (three to five people) of trained military technicians (totaling 30–45 people) who cleaned most of the heavily oiled areas manually using buckets, shovels, small hand tools, specially-treated peat moss, and small driftwood fires. Waste materials were bagged and transported to a mainland facility for treatment. Dead pups were placed into well-marked rocky cemeteries and treated with quicklime. Despite the mortality, the low-technology response was a success because it added no additional injury to the affected populations. Lessons from this international experience are being used to develop cleanup and protection plans for other fur seal rookery areas, including Alaska's ?ribilof Islands.