Population Size and Reproductive Performance of Seabirds on Southeast Farallon Island, 2002
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POPULATION SIZE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF PINNIPEDS ON THE SOUTH FARALLON ISLANDS, 2018-19 REPORT TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FARALLON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE August 2020 Garrett P. Duncan California Current Group Point Blue Conservation Science 3820 Cypress Drive #11 Petaluma, CA, 94954 © 2020 Point Blue Conservation Science 2019 Farallon Island Pinniped Report Duncan, G.P. 1 Population Size and Reproductive Performance of Pinnipeds on the South Farallon Islands, 2018-2019 August 2020 Point Blue Conservation Science Garrett P. Duncan Acknowledgements Data were collected by Farallon research winter assistants Leah Kerschner, Sophia Prisco, Marine Quintin, Sarayu Ramnath, Jon Schneiderman, and assistants from the spring, summer and fall seasons under the supervision of Point Blue Conservation Science staff biologists, Garrett Duncan, Mike Johns, Jim Tietz, and Pete Warzybok. We are also very grateful for support provided by the skippers of the Farallon Patrol, our colleagues at the mainland office, and personnel from the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. We are grateful for the continued financial and logistical support provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our donors, and Point Blue colleagues on the mainland. This is Point Blue contribution number 2329. Suggested Citation Duncan, G.P. 2019. Population size and reproductive performance of pinnipeds on the South Farallon Islands, 2018-2019. Unpublished report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California. Point Blue Contribution Number 2329. Point Blue Conservation Science – Point Blue’s 140 staff and seasonal scientists conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystems through scientific research and outreach. At the core of our work is ecosystem science, studying birds and other indicators of nature’s health. Visit Point Blue on the web www.pointblue.org. Cover photo credit/caption: “Yearling lounging in rocks” – 2018 Garrett Duncan. TABLE OF CONTENTS Population Size and Reproductive Performance of Pinnipeds on the South Farallon Islands, 2018-2019 ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 1 Suggested Citation ................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................... 1 LIMITED RIGHTS DISCLOSURE ...................................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 4 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 5 2019 Farallon Island Pinniped Report Duncan, G.P. 2 METHODS .................................................................................................................................... 5 Northern elephant seals ........................................................................................................... 5 Northern fur seals .................................................................................................................... 5 Other pinnipeds ........................................................................................................................ 6 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Northern elephant seals ........................................................................................................... 6 Northern fur seals .................................................................................................................... 7 Harbor seals .............................................................................................................................. 8 California sea lions ................................................................................................................... 8 Steller sea lions ......................................................................................................................... 8 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................. 8 Northern elephant seals ........................................................................................................... 8 Northern fur seals .................................................................................................................. 10 Harbor seals ............................................................................................................................ 11 California sea lions ................................................................................................................. 12 Steller sea lions ....................................................................................................................... 12 RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 13 LITERATURE CITED ..................................................................................................................... 15 TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... 20 FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... 24 2019 Farallon Island Pinniped Report Duncan, G.P. 3 LIMITED RIGHTS DISCLOSURE All data contained in this 2018-19 Farallon Island Pinniped Report (“report”) is the copyright of Point Blue Conservation Science (formerly PRBO) and collected in coordination with the USFWS, Farallon National Wildlife Refuge under the terms of Cooperative Agreement #F19AC00242. The Government's rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose the data set forth in this report are restricted by section 36(a) of OMB Circular A-110 “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations” as incorporated in the above identified contract. Any reproduction of data or portions thereof, in this report must also reproduce this Limited Rights Disclosure and all copyright markings. Requests to distribute, use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose data, or portions thereof, in this report beyond the scope of the government’s license, must be submitted to Point Blue Conservation Science at the referenced address. Any reference to or use of this report, or any portion thereof, within the scope of the government’s license, shall include the following citation: Duncan, G.P. 2019. Population size and reproductive performance of pinnipeds on the South Farallon Islands, 2018-2019. Unpublished report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California. Point Blue Contribution Number 2329. Outside the scope of the government’s license, this report shall not be used without written permission from the director of the California Current Group at [email protected] or Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive #11, Petaluma, CA, 94954. 2019 Farallon Island Pinniped Report Duncan, G.P. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1) Under cooperative agreement with USFWS/Farallon Islands NWR, Point Blue (formerly PRBO) monitors the population size and reproductive success of pinnipeds on Southeast Farallon Island and West End Island, California and has done so since 1970. (2) During the December 2018 – March 2019 winter season the Northern elephant seal breeding population decreased by 36 adult females compared to the previous season (126 in 2018; 107 in 2017) and was on the low end of the range for the past decade (range: 84- 126). Pup production significantly decreased this year compared to last season (71 in 2018; 104 in 2016) and is the lowest since 2014 (67). (3) While overall production declined, pup survival (weaned pups/pups) increased this year (75%) compared to last season (55%) and is the highest record since 2014 (85%). This is also slightly higher than the long-term mean value of 74% ± 10 SD. Reproductive success (weaned pups/cows) also increased this season (59%) compared to last year (45%) but is still below the long-term mean value of 67% ± 11 SD. (4) Overall attendance to the colony this year was lower, consistent with the trends over the last 25 years. The breeding success was the highest value it has been in 5 years but is still below the long term average. Pup survival on the other hand was higher than the long term average. The data shows that there are more cows coming onto the island that are not producing pups, which reduces the overall reproductive success. (5) The 2018 pinniped breeding populations for the other 4 species decreased slightly, with maximum pup counts of 579 for Northern fur seals, 4 for Harbor seals, 505 for California sea lions and 44 for Steller sea lions. This year’s breeding period resulted in the highest max pup counts for fur seals for the entire time series, nearly the highest count