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Movements and Use of Haul-Out Sites of Radio-Tagged Saimaa Ringed Seal (Phoca Hispida Saimensis Nordq.) During the Open-Water Season

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Movements and Use of Haul-Out Sites of Radio-Tagged Saimaa Ringed Seal (Phoca Hispida Saimensis Nordq.) During the Open-Water Season ANN. ZOOL. FENNICI Vol. 39 • Movements and use of haul-out sites 59 Ann. Zool. Fennici 39: 59–67 ISSN 0003-455X Helsinki 6 March 2002 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2002 Movements and use of haul-out sites of radio-tagged Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis Nordq.) during the open-water season Jouni T. Koskela1, Mervi Kunnasranta, Esa Hämäläinen & Heikki Hyvärinen2 Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland 1) Present address: Metsähallitus, Nature Protection, Akselinkatu 8, FIN-57131 Savonlinna, Finland 2) Correspondence author (e-mail: heikki.hyvarinen@joensuu.fi ) Received 28 December 2000, accepted 23 September 2001 Koskela, J. T., Kunnasranta, M., Hämäläinen, E. & Hyvärinen, H. 2002: Movements and use of haul-out sites of radio-tagged Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis Nordq.) during the open-water season. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 39: 59–67. The movements and use of haul-out sites of nine adult Saimaa ringed seals (Phoca hispida saimensis) were monitored by VHF-radiotelemetry during the open-water season. Saimaa seals exhibited a high degree of site fi delity. The home range of this subspecies is probably smaller than that of ringed seals living in the sea. The main living area of one male was about 3 km2 and whole living area about 20 km2. All seals used more than one haul-out site during the study periods. Maximum distances between different haul-out sites of studied seals ranged from 2.7 km to 13.0 km. Moreover, the wintering areas of fi ve seals were the same as the summertime haul-out site of each seal. The fi rst translocation experiment on the Saimaa ringed seal was made in this study. After translocation of 100 km, mature female moved 18 km and showed a high degree of site fi delity in her new environment. Introduction in Finland. The shoreline is about 15 000 km long and the lake is characterised by several Lake Saimaa (61°05´–62°36´N, 27°15´–30°00´E) areas of exposed water, which are connected with surface area of 4380 km2 is the largest lake to each other by narrow sounds. This labyrin- 60 Koskela et al. • ANN. ZOOL. FENNICI Vol. 39 thine water system is inhabited by subspecies In 1992, an adult female (Venla) was captured in of ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis), which central Saimaa (Fig. 1: area 3) and transported has been living separated from other ringed about 100 km (Fig. 1: area 2) south of the cap- seals for over 8000 years. Morphologically, the ture site as part of an initiate to increase number Saimaa ringed seal has already differentiated of mature females in this low population area. The from the neighbouring subspecies in the Baltic movements of these seals were monitored with Sea and in Lake Ladoga (Hyvärinen & Niem- an Argos satellite telemetry system with UHF inen 1990). Nowadays this highly endangered transmitters (Toyocom T-2028 PTTs, Toyo Com- subspecies is estimated to consist of 230–250 munication Equipment Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). individuals. Locations (classes 1, 2 or 3) were approved with Previous studies of diving behaviour, based a minimum accuracy of 1 km in 66% of the on telemetric techniques, have shown that Saimaa results. Venla was also equipped with a VHF seals spend even 80% of the total time sub- transmitter (Finntracker AML-465, Finland). merged during the open water season. In addi- In 1993, two adult males (named Konsta tion, dive duration of the seals ranges 3 min to and Osmo) and in 1994 a female (Orvokki) and 7 min with maximum over 20 min and the seals Osmo for the second year in a row were captured are supposed to sleep during long duration rest- in central Saimaa from Haukivesi area (Fig 1, ing dives (Hyvärinen et al. 1995, Kunnasranta area 3). In 1996, adult male (named Väinö) and et al. 2002). These studies also indicated that adult female (Emma) and in 1997 two other the Saimaa seal is quite stationary subspecies. females (Lyyli, Suvi) and Emma second time Thus, it has been supposed that the breeding were captured from southern part of central populations in northern and southern parts of Saimaa from Pihlajavesi area (Fig. 1: area 4). the lake are separated from each other and that The seals were equipped with VHF-transmitters the population might be divided into several similar to those attached to Venla. subpopulations (Sipilä et al. 1990). However, The seals were captured with nets from haul- there has not been information about movements out areas during the moulting season (middle of and habitat use of ringed seals in Lake Saimaa. May to early June). Radio tags were attached Information concerning the movements, homing with epoxy resin to the pelage between the behaviour, home range and home fi delity is scapulae of the seals (see Hyvärinen et al. 1995). needed for better understanding ecology of the In practice, tags transmitted for 3–8 months. In Saimaa seal and also for improving conservation some cases only few weeks of movements were strategies of this threatened subspecies. recorded as transmitter antennae were broken In the present study, we examined the move- or batteries expired. Radio tags fell off at least ments and use of haul-out sites of radio tagged at the time of next moulting. Additionally, all Saimaa seals in an attempt to characterise the studied seals were tagged with a plastic tag home range size of the seal. Further, we present (Dalton Jumbo Plastic Rototag) in the webbing data from the fi rst translocation experiment on of the hind fl ipper. After transmitters fell away, the Saimaa seal. fl ipper tags as well as individual characteristic were used to identify the seals during the next few years. Materials and methods A signal could be received from the trans- mitter only when the seal was surfacing. The The movements of radio-tagged Saimaa seals locations of seals were determined with port- were monitored in different parts of Lake Saimaa able receivers (Finntracker AMV-466, Finland in 1990–1997 (Fig. 1). A male (named Sulevi) and AOR 8000, Japan) and animals were visu- was released back to his natural environment ally observed at least once a week. Transmitter in northern Saimaa in August 1990 after being signals were also monitored continuously with in captivity in a small lake for four years (see an omni-directional dipole antenna connected to Hyvärinen et al. 1995, Kunnasranta et al. 1999). a receiver with a chart recorder (Hioki 8201, ANN. ZOOL. FENNICI Vol. 39 • Movements and use of haul-out sites 61 Fig. 1. Map of study areas of radio-tagged Saimaa ringed seals: (1) Sulevi, (2) Venla, (3) Konsta, Osmo, Orvokki, (4) Väinö, Emma, Lyyli and Suvi. Japan). The range of recorder ranged from 3 km surfacing places of Osmo with this cross-bear- to 5 km, signal strength varying with the sur- ing method. Locations determined were com- rounding topography. The recorders were placed pared in this way with locations obtained by approximately in the middle of the living areas visual observation. The cross-bearing method of the studied seals. was accurate within a hundred meters. Data from Additionally, habitat use of the seals was chart recorders were used to confi rm whether or monitored in 1993 and 1994 by two computer- not the seals travelled outside of the receiving guided permanent stations located on the shore. range of the signal. Using these various methods VHF signals could be monitored from seals we were able to fi nd all haul-out sites of the as far away as 10 km by directional antennae seals and to designate the travelling dives of mounted on mast 5–15 m above the water Osmo from other dives. If the location of surfac- surface. The exact range of the receivers varied ing was changed systemically, the dives were between regions. Locations in 1993 were deter- grouped as travelling dives. The other dives mined automatically when the seals were hauled were subdivided into as resting dives and forag- out on the rocks. In 1994 from August to Novem- ing dives (see Hyvärinen et al. 1995, Kun- ber we were able to locate also the majority of nasranta et al. 2002). 62 Koskela et al. • ANN. ZOOL. FENNICI Vol. 39 Results The translocation experiment on the Saimaa seal was made in the summer of 1992. An adult The movements of nine free ranging Saimaa female (Venla) was captured in central Saimaa seals were monitored during the open water and transported about 100 km to the south of the season on Lake Saimaa. Maximum distances capture site. During the fi rst week after release, between the farthest observed locations of indi- Venla moved about 18 km south and settled vidual seals ranged from 3.4 to 18 km and down near some islands (Fig. 3). Venla used a between different haul-out sites from 2.7 to group of islands as haul-out site and based on 13.0 km (Table 1). All seals used more than the signals received by the chart recorder, she one haul-out site during the study periods (see remained over 95% of the whole time within Figs. 2–5). the range of the receiver (diameter about 3 km) After four years in captivity, Sulevi (male) until the end of November when the transmitter released in 1990 back to the haul-out area, batteries ran out. In addition, after the radio where was captured in 1986. Before that, it tagging period had ended, Venla was seen in the had been seen annually in the same area during same area several times annually.
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