Journal article
Urban life of Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) on San Cristobal Island, Ecuador: colony trends and threats
Journal of Sea Research, Vol.105, pp.10-14
2015
Abstract
Worldwide, pristine environments are influenced by human societies. In the Galapagos Islands, the endangered, endemic Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) has formed one of the biggest colonies within the town center of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. About 8,000 people live there and human wildlife interactions occur daily. With colony counts and direct observations from 2008 to 2012, we analyze cause of death, injuries and disease of urban sea lion colonies at Wreck Bay. Population increase since 2008 can be attributed to an immigration of adult sea lions in 2010, resulting in an increase in the pup and juvenile production in 2011 and 2012. Pup mortality increased drastically to 2009 and again in 2011 and 2012. Besides pup mortality, most of the deaths are caused by increased disease incidences and human activity. Our observations suggest that overall 65% of the injuries observed are produced by human interaction. The increase in threats leading to death, injuries or disease can have long-term effects on the population. Although threats that cause physical injuries can be managed locally, sea lions range movements contributes to the spread of infectious pathogens, which may affect neighbor colonies and potentially have an impact on the survival of the species. Our study reveals the need of stronger efforts towards a more complete understanding of threats and especially disease spread among Galapagos Sea lions in urban environments and the establishment of more effective management measures.
Details
- Title
- Urban life of Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) on San Cristobal Island, Ecuador: colony trends and threats
- Authors
- Judith Denkinger (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorLuis Gordillo (Author) - Utah State University, United StatesIgnasi Montero-Serra (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorJuan Carlos Murillo (Author) - Universidad Estatal de la Peninsula de Santa Elena, EcuadorNataly Guevara (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorMaximilian Hirshfeld (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorKatharina Fietz (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorFrancisco Rubianes (Author) - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorMichael Dan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Journal of Sea Research, Vol.105, pp.10-14
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.seares.2015.07.004
- ISSN
- 1385-1101
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2015. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450189102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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