Við Pollurinn: The Effects of Human-Caused Stimuli on Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) in Ísafjörður

Authors

Ella Jorgensen, SIT Study AbroadFollow

Home Institution

California Polytechnic State University

Publication Date

Fall 2023

Program Name

Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic

Abstract

Harbor seals are important for the health of Iceland’s marine ecosystems. They are normally seen hauled-out onto land to rest. There are many factors that affect the haul-out patterns of harbor seals including location, season, time of day, tide height, weather, and human-caused stimuli. The presence of human-caused stimuli can also have a negative impact on haul-out patterns and behaviors. The Icelandic harbor seal population is threatened as it has been declining since 1980. Climate change and the rise of tourism in Iceland may be a factor contributing to this decline; and there is a gap in knowledge on the full effect of tourism on wildlife because it has grown rapidly. Therefore, it is important to monitor Icelandic harbor seal populations. By conducting land-based scans of harbor seals, this study attempts to find the abundance of harbor seals in a haul-out site in Pollurinn, Ísafjörður during autumn, and how they are affected by human-caused stimuli. It found that human-caused stimuli negatively affects the harbor seals in Pollurinn, Ísafjörður by causing them to change their behaviors. Hauling-out decreased, vigilance increased, and flushing increased in the presence of stimuli including planes, drones, humans, and large trucks. Humans had the greatest impact among all of the human-cause stimuli. These findings are important in the context of Icelandic harbor seal population decline and the rise of tourism. It is important to monitor these populations because the observations and findings can be used to help conserve Icelandic harbor seals. This is especially significant to Ísafjörður where tourism is very prevalent in the summer.

Disciplines

Animal Studies | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Human Ecology | Marine Biology | Oceanography | Research Methods in Life Sciences | Zoology

Recommended Citation

Jorgensen, Ella, "Við Pollurinn: The Effects of Human-Caused Stimuli on Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) in Ísafjörður" (2023). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3850.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3850