Realizing the potential of population information from seal photo-ID studies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Biology
Abstract
Over the past two decades, seal populations around Britain have undergone substantial changes in distribution and abundance. Most of the UK's grey and harbour seals live in Scottish waters, but significant parts of both populations also occur fragmented throughout the Irish Sea (including Wales), the southwest (Cornwall, Scilly Isles, Brittany), Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Northumberland. Ireland also has significant seal populations around its south and west coasts. Tracking studies have shown that seals are quite capable of moving great distances in a matter of days; conversely breeding colonies are characterised by seals that remain faithful to previous breeding sites and even to where they were born. Recent changes in UK seal population trends have focussed attention on the fact that the 'degree of connectedness' between seals in different areas remains unclear. A large amount of data from different areas has been collected on seal populations, using the technique of photo-identification (photo-ID), as seals have unique patterns allowing individuals to be identified. In addition to SMRU photo-ID research, locally based studies of these seal populations have created their own photo-ID catalogues, ranging greatly in number of images, geographic extent and duration of survey. Because of the large number of seals in the population and the large quantity of data collected, computer-aided matching is needed to make useful comparisons. Existing software for matching images doesn't deal with a large number of existing images and new software is required. This project aims to form a network of partners involved in seal photo-ID and update their knowledge and skills in photo-ID through training workshops and web-based resources. New image processing software will be developed to allow inclusion of many old images previously unavailable. Partners will benefit from the increased efficiency of their photo-ID programmes and databases which will in turn inform the science community. There is also the potential for benefits to extend to local economies through ecotourism.
People |
ORCID iD |
Paddy Pomeroy (Principal Investigator) | |
Sean Twiss (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Twiss SD
(2020)
Reactive stress-coping styles show more variable reproductive expenditure and fitness outcomes.
in Scientific reports
Twiss S
(2011)
An in-field experimental test of pinniped behavioral types
in Marine Mammal Science
Stewart J
(2014)
Finescale ecological niche modeling provides evidence that lactating gray seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) prefer access to fresh water in order to drink
in Marine Mammal Science
Smout S
(2010)
Integrating heterogeneity of detection and mark loss to estimate survival and transience in UK grey seal colonies
in Journal of Applied Ecology
Smout S
(2020)
Environment-sensitive mass changes influence breeding frequency in a capital breeding marine top predator.
in The Journal of animal ecology
Robinson KJ
(2015)
Maternal Oxytocin Is Linked to Close Mother-Infant Proximity in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus).
in PloS one
Robinson KJ
(2017)
Positive social behaviours are induced and retained after oxytocin manipulations mimicking endogenous concentrations in a wild mammal.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Robinson KJ
(2019)
High oxytocin infants gain more mass with no additional maternal energetic costs in wild grey seals (Halichoerus grypus).
in Psychoneuroendocrinology
Pomeroy P
(2015)
Assessing use of and reaction to unmanned aerial systems in gray and harbor seals during breeding and molt in the UK
in Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems
Paterson W
(2013)
Pup to adult photo- ID : Evidence of pelage stability in gray seals
in Marine Mammal Science
Langley I
(2020)
Site use and connectivity of female grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) around Wales
in Marine Biology
Hiby L
(2012)
Analysis of photo-id data allowing for missed matches and individuals identified from opposite sides
in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Hanson N
(2019)
Colony-specific differences in decadal longitudinal body composition of a capital-breeding marine top predator
in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Description | 1. The SEAL system was developed to run as a stand-alone package. It uses ExtractCompare (Conservation Research Ltd) as the main processing engine for extracting patterns and comparing them for matches.2. Necks, heads, flanks, chest and abdomen were identified as suitable areas to have extracts taken: of these most photographs show heads, necks and flanks, depending on whether they were taken at sea or on haulouts.3. Miss rates (failure to match 2 extracts of the same female) could be as high as 33% if no restictions were placed on photo quality etc. Miss rates fell quickly s more images of the same animal were available, reaching almost zero at 5 or more images.4. Apparent adult mortality at the breeding colony of N Rona, Scotland was estimated at 0.84 using an open population model, and was found to be similar to that estimated by Smout et al (2011), and likely to be a contributory cause of the falling pup production at the colony. 5. The ability of the program to provide almost real time matches in the field provides a huge improvement in the power of individual recognition for all other individual-based research. For example, the demographic estimates can now be derived from a sample of around 300+ pelage identified females rather than the 100 or so artificially animals marked previously and potentially biased by handling. 6. Provisional tests on a small number of animals have shown that there is some retention of weaned pup pelage patterns through to adulthood, offering a useful avenue for early survival studies. |
Exploitation Route | By careful examination of the results and findings. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
Description | They inform SCOS annual reviews on seal population parameters, used by UK and Scottish Govt. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
Description | Grey seals in Holland |
Organisation | Wageningen University & Research |
Department | Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES) |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The expertise and knowledge base obtained from the NERC-funded study has been used to service a collaborative project with IMARES in Holland to assist with a study on using photo-id to estimate exchange of seals in Holland with those in the UK and other North Sea countries. SMRU has provided training, staff and data processing for the work. |
Collaborator Contribution | IMARES have carried out most of the Dutch fieldwork and pre-processing formatting of data. |
Impact | repeat funding for Dutch seal surveys in N Sea. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Grey seals in Wales |
Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | SMRU provided training, expertise and staff time on setting up network of survey teams to monitor grey seal movements and habitat use in Wales. |
Collaborator Contribution | NRW provided equipment, staff time and admin as well as funding a CASE studentship with SMRU. |
Impact | Report on Marine mammal interactions with marine renewable energy platforms. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | grey seals in Wales (2) |
Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We were contracted to process and analyse data collected under the previous collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provided the staff effort to collect and assimilate data for sending to us. |
Impact | output due Mar 2017 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | grey seals in Wales (3) |
Organisation | Natural Resources Wales |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | we were contracted to process and summarize data collected by collaborations |
Collaborator Contribution | they collected data under previous collaboration |
Impact | report due 2017 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Explorathon |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | photo-id display as part of open day where visitors could try matching skills |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Raytheon |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | participation in industry liason with local schools to engage in more technical -based subjects, using UAV flying challenge |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | national science week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | exhibition featuring photo-id methods as part of science week open day for general public |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |