The Hawaiian Monk Seal: An Endangered Species

The Hawaiian monastic Seal An Endangered SpeciesThe Hawaiian monastic pestle (Neomonachus Schauinslandi) is an endemic species located on the Hawaiian Islands. It has the pursuance taxonomy Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae, Genus Neomonachus, and Species Schauinslandi ( angleeries.noaa.gov). It is found predominately on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with a smaller population located on the main islands.The monk mould arrived at the Hawaiian Islands anywhere from 3.5 to 11.6 million years ago. They be believed to hold in entered from the east via a passage way in of import America (fpir.noaa.gov). The animals were hunted aggressively in the 19th century for their fur. Since then, thither population has not been able to recover. The monk seals face a calculate of obstacles to survival. Its population is still declining, as in that location were an estimated 1,112 remaining in 2015.Historically, its geographic range has bee n within the U.S. waters near the Hawaiian Islands. They basin be found on the isolated beaches of the northwestern islands. They spend much of their epoch at sea near coral reefs. The seals habitat in any case lie of submerged sea banks, atolls, and otherwise beas offshore. The monk seal typically forages for nutrition at a depth of 60-300ft. deep (fisheries.noaa.gov).During breeding season, the monk seals are located on the sandy beaches of Hawaii. They prefer remote and secure locations when nursing their pups, which lasts a month until they return to the sea. The life span of a Hawaiian monk seal is 25-30 years. They mature at the age of five, and can rear up to 7.5 feet and weigh 400lbs. An interesting feature of the seal is they are innate(p) black, but grow a silver coat later in life. The monk seal is considered a benthic forager which eat fish, eels, octopus, and crustaceans (fisheries.noaa.gov). at that place are several reasons for the Hawaiian monk seals pop ulation has downsloped at much(prenominal) a rapid rate over the gone few decades. First of all, the human being population on the islands has disturbed the animals natural habitat. The seals often die later getting caught in fishing nets, and thither is a decrease in food available which might be attributed to overfishing in the area. The seals take for face difficulty in finding sufficient food out-of-pocket to rivalry from other caribes as well. Also, the monk seal is a source of precede for sharks which adds to its loss in seconds.Genetic variability is low among the Hawaiian monk seals, which has added to the species difficulty in recovering from its endangered status. This is compounded by the feature that subpopulations fail to migrate or interact with populations of differing islands. This has caused inbreeding which carries with it a host of shun consequences. Genetic transformation helps a species to recover by promoting unhealthiness opposition and adap tability to a changing environment. On the other hand, a lack of diversity increases a chance for disease and reproductive failure (Kretzmann 482-483).Inbreeding occurs when the number of potential difference mates is low, and it carries with it a number of use ups. When a species is facing deadion, the absence of inheritable diversity can compound its struggle for survival. DNA testing of the monk seal has shown that its genetic diversity is extremely low. Because of this, an outbreak of an infectious disease could possibly cause the Hawaiian monk seal to become extinct (Kretzmann 487). If the seals were to breed with populations from differing islands, it could hypothetically increase their chance for survival.Mobbing, or the aggressive style exhibited by male seals, often results in the conclusion of a egg-producing(prenominal) or young seal. It occurs when a multitude of males attempt to mate with unitary female and end up attacking the female. The resulting injuries ca n lead to transmittal or death. This is causing slower development of the seals population. It is found that in groups of smaller populations with slower growth rates, instances of this behavior are heightser. It is impression that mobbing is a learn behavior that may take time to be overcome. Intervention can be used to decrease mobbing behavior, such as removing a tick number of males from an area where there is an unequal gender ratio (Starfield and Roth 166, 169).There is currently fulfill being taken to help the species recover. The Hawaiian monastic Seal prisoner Care Workshop was created to halt the population decline and help it to recover. The organization believes that an annual reduction in population of 3.9% is due to the poor survival rate of juvenile seals. By supporting unfree seals through rehabilitation, nutrition, and relocation, the group hopes to increase survival. It also advocates for other methods of helping the species, such as disentangling seals cau ght in fishing nets and removing debris from its habitat (Baker and Littnan 11).Other methods admit removing sharks from the seals habitat, or relocating pups to areas where there is a lower risk from predators. Captive handle and release helps undernourished or ill pups that might otherwise die. formerly they are healthy, the young seals are relocated to an area where they allow have a better chance of survival (Baker and Littnan 11, 12). It has been found that a high rate of seal pups die shortly after being deprive from the mother. The mother will leave the pup after one month of nursing, and if the pup is unable to find sufficient food, it faces starvation and death. The importance of the saving efforts by these captive care and release programs cannot be understated.Since the Hawaiian monk seals have low genetic variability, they are more susceptible to disease. It is thought that another species, the Caribbean monk seal (Neomonachus Tropicalis), had a susceptibility for disease which potential hastened its extinction. The morbillivirus is of particular concern for the Hawaiian monk seals. The morbillivirus is a string of viruses that hold the measles, which can be spread quickly and easily. Once a seal has become infected with the virus, the lungs and brain are affected, which can lead to death in as little as 5 days. The disease has already kil conduct thousands of Atlantic seals and dolphins. Since the seals have no immunity to these viruses, scientists have taken action to create and administer a vaccination (Rogers).Once scientists found a suitable vaccine, they began to administer it to the seals in 2015. The vaccination process begins with a star injection, followed up with a booster shot one month later. As of September 2016, 43 Hawaiian monk seals have received the vaccination. The group of scientists (HMSRP) administering the shots hope that this project will be successful and grow. The Hawaiian monastic Seal Research Program is also i nvolved in other interventions such as removing seals from fishing nets and hooks, rehabilitating malnourished pups, and relocating seals to higher survival areas. Their efforts have slowed the populations decline by over half in the past 3 decades (Rogers).While the monk seal once had instrumental value, and were hunted for their furs, this led to the near extinction of the species in the early 1900s. Since the seal is no protracted used for human purposes, it is now appreciated mainly for its intrinsic beauty. internal beauty is something that can be valued for its own sake. The monk seal is a rare animal that can be appreciated for its uniqueness, and has been an classic aspect of the Hawaiian Islands for over 3 million years.The Hawaiian monk seal is also important to other species and the areas ecosystem. They are an apex predator and play an important role in keeping a number of prey from becoming overpopulated. Therefore, they create a balance needed for in maintaining a d iverse and stable ecosystem (Muneoka). This is a significant reason for the conservation of the Hawaiian monk seals.The Hawaiian monk seal has faces so many a(prenominal) obstacles over the past century, yet it has been able to survive in enkindle of these. The most alarming problem that the seals face is lack of food. The juvenile seals are facing a continuing threat of starvation, and they are in never-ending competition with fisheries and other predators. Protected areas for the seals have been used in the past, and expanding these will likely help. It will not only increase food deliver for the seals, but will also prevent them from getting caught by fish hooks or nets.Until there is a greater supply of food for the monk seals, efforts in capturing and rehabilitating the young pups is important. Also, once they seals are at a healthier weight, they can be placed in an area where there is a higher source of food and increased chance of survival. Relocating seals is also helpf ul in increasing genetic diversity, which will help in the species ability to fight disease. Inoculation of the monk seal is also a good attempt at decreasing the seals vulnerability of disease.One other concern, mobbing, is a factor that is decreasing the chance of the seals survival. Interventions, such as removing males from areas where there is an imbalanced ratio of male to female, are helpful. With all of these efforts, and the noble concern of the people involved, the Hawaiian monk seal is beginning to see a brighter future.The population of monk seals has rising 3% annually over the past 3 years. As of January, 2017, there is an estimate of 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals. This is a great improvement, considering there were 1,112 seals in 2015. Interestingly, the state of Hawaii has dedicated 2017 as the Year of the Monk Seal. In conclusion, with the continuing severe work of the hard working people involved to save the Hawaiian monk seal, there is great hope for the species survi val in the future.Works CitedHawaiian Monk Seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi).http//www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/seals/hawaiian-monk-seal.html. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.Historical Timeline of the Hawaiian Monk Seal.http//www.fpir.noaa.gov/ program library/PRD/Hawaiian%20monk%20seal/HMS_natural_history_timelineWEB.pdf. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.Schmelzer, Isabelle. Seals and Seascapes Covariation in Hawaiian Monk Seal Subpopulations and the marine Landscape of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Journal of Biogeography 27.4 (2000) 901-914. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.Kretzmann, female horse B., et al. Low Genetic Variability in the Hawaiian Monk Seal. preservation Biology, vol. 11, no. 2, 1997, pp. 482-490., www.jstor.org/stable/2387621. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.Starfield, Anthony M., et al. Mobbing in Hawaiian Monk Seals (Monachus Schauinslani) The measure of Simulation Modeling in the Absence of Apparently Crucial Data. preservation Biology, vol. 9, no. 1, 1995, pp. 166-174., www.jst or.org/stable/2386398.Baker, Jason and Littnan, Charles. Report of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Captive Care Workshop, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 11-13, 2007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., (2008).Rogers, Kim. Why Rare Hawaiian Monk Seals argon Lining Up to Get Their Shots. Smithsonian (2016). http//www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/researchers-are-vaccinating-wild-marine-species-first-time-180960479/. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.Muneoka, Lauren. Why Care to the highest degree Monk Seals? Kahea (2011). http//kahea.org/blog/why-care-about-monk-seals. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.