Health Assessment and Diseases of the Weddell seal, Leptonochotes weddelli, in Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica

摘要: The Weddell seal, Leptonochotes weddelli, is the most southerly breeding of Antarctic seals. Small groups remain for extended periods over summer months on fast-ice inlets and shorelines continent parturition, lactation moulting. Those in areas close to research stations are uniquely accessible study, but this may bring them contact with human activity pollution derived from habitation. Treaty nations have undertaken prevent accidental introduction parasites diseases (Article IX Agreed Measures 1964 Protocol Environmental Protection Treaty, 1991) into Antarctica, our understanding existing their effects limited. At two sites, Vestfold Hills, East at McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, seals been tagged many years population feeding ecology studies. This provides unparalleled opportunities investigate health disease well-described populations wildlife. Health assessment reported by Yochem et al. (this volume). It Hills that subject chapter.