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Saimaa ringed seal research´s Profile image

Saimaa ringed seal research

Research group
01.01.2006 -
Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology

Leaders

The Saimaa ringed seal research project at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) provides the scientific basis for the conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal population. The research group investigates ringed seal biology, estimate different risk factors, and develops new methods for conservation and monitoring. Research results have direct applications in conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal. By-catch mortality, changing environment (especially climate change), viability of the population, and development of new methods are key elements in different research projects. Current research issues include behavioral ecology, genetics and population modeling. In addition, the Saimaa ringed seal research maintains the Saimaa ringed seal tissue bank for current and future research and educational needs.

Projects

Cooperation

  • Metsähallitus

  • WWF Finland

  • Saimaa ringed seal mother and pup
    Picture: Mervi Kunnasranta

    UEF is the only university that carries out field research on the ecology of the Saimaa ringed seal. In recent years, our research has focused especially on the survival of young age classes, because pup mortality is currently worryingly high. Furthermore, special focus is on dispersal of pups during their first critical year. Additionally, impacts of weather, human caused disturbance, and predation on the seal population are studied. The methods used include GPS/GSM- and VHF-telemetry, and remotely operated cameras. These technologies enable detailed monitoring of individuals for several months (telemetry) or even through an individual’s whole life (individual recognition based on photo-ID). Results from individual monitoring can be utilized also in population modeling, which enables risk assessment at the population level.

    Current monitoring and conservation methods of the Saimaa ringed seal have mostly been developed at the University of Joensuu. UEF has continued this work. Development of methods for monitoring has been focused especially on estimation of juvenile mortality and improvement of pup survival in the changing climate. UEF has created and tested ‘man-made snowdrift’ method for artificially improving the lair conditions during breeding season. This method was successfully used at large scale as conservation action during the mild winter 2014.

  • Swimming Saimaa ringed seal
    Picture: Marja Niemi

    The genetic diversity of the Saimaa ringed seal is very low, and the population is divided into several small subpopulations. These factors can make the Saimaa ringed seal population vulnerable to environmental changes. Part of the UEF research in Saimaa ringed seal genetics is to investigate the role and maintenance of genetic diversity in isolated and endangered host–parasite systems. The aim is to elucidate whether the extremely low genetic variability of the Saimaa ringed seal is reflected in the species composition and genetic diversity of associated parasites. In addition, the genetic diversity in Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes will be compared between Saimaa ringed seals and ringed seals from Baltic Sea and Lake Ladoga. The research will help us to understand the long-term changes in genetic diversity in isolated host-parasite –systems and the importance of parasites in maintaining the diversity in immune system genes. It will also be easier to estimate the role of parasites in survival of endangered Saimaa ringed seal.

    UEF participates in the Saimaa ringed seal genome project lead by the University of Helsinki. The genome project aims to sequence and publish the full genome of the Saimaa ringed seal. The resultant information can be used to enhance conservation of the critically endangered population.

  • In the 1960s, extremely high mercury concentrations were measured from the tissues of Saimaa ringed seals. The high mercury concentrations are suspected to be contributing cause to the rapid decline of the Saimaa ringed seal population. Even though the industrial emissions of mercury have declined drastically during the last decades, silvicultural treatments, atmospheric transport and floods can release heavy metals from current and the old historical deposits from soils near the Lake Saimaa and from far away areas. In addition to heavy metal contamination, other atmospherically transported chemicals form a threat to the Saimaa ringed seal. These include, but are not limited to, for example polyfluorinated compounds (PFS – used in the manufacture of Teflon) and polybrominated compounds (PBDE – which are used as flame retardants). Ecotoxicological research in our group is aimed to determine the present concentrations of the environmental contaminants in Saimaa ringed seals, and to assess the effects of the chemical load on the well-being of the Saimaa ringed seal.

  • UEF collects Saimaa ringed seal photo-ID catalogue. If you wish to send your photos for research purposes and get information about the seal photographed, please send them to:

    [email protected]

    Please provide the following information: name of the photographer, date and location for the photos. Photo quality does not matter as long as fur pattern can be distinguished. Photos will not be published without permission and all rights are reserved to the photographer.

  • Three different size Saimaa ringed seal skulls
    Picture: Mervi Kunnasranta

    Saimaa ringed seal tissue bank is maintained by Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. Tissue samples collected from Saimaa ringed seals found dead are deposited for current and future research and educational needs. The earliest samples are from the 1970s. Currently, the tissue bank database contains samples (muscle, blubber, liver, kidney, baculum, skin, skull and/or hair) of over 600 Saimaa ringed seals. In addition, skulls of Saimaa ringed seals are conserved by UEF.

Keywords

Publications

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