image: This is a Galapagos sea lion. view more
Credit: ZSL_Paddy Brock
IMMUNE systems of endangered Galapagos sea lions are in overdrive because of harmful activity by people, reveal scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The study shows that Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) are more prone to starvation because of exposure to human influences like pets and pollution. These can impair the level of their immunity, making them less able to hunt and more likely to go hungry when food is scarce.
This research is published today (28th June) in the journal PLOS ONE.
Conservationists spent more than eighteen months on the Islands of San Cristobal, which is inhabited by humans, and Santa Fe, where there are no humans, dogs, cats, mice or rats. They tagged 60 Galapagos sea lions from each island and monitored their behaviour and physiology.
ZSL's Institute of Zoology Director, Professor Tim Blackburn says: "We are increasingly aware of the threats of infectious diseases to wildlife around the world, from amphibians in the tropics to the birds in British gardens. It is worrying that we are now potentially seeing such threats to sea lions in the supposedly pristine wilderness of the Galapagos Islands."
ZSL's Dr. Paddy Brock, author on the paper, says: "A tell-tale sign of an unhealthy sea lion is a thinner than normal layer of blubber, which is what we saw in the sea lions on San Cristobal. This was all the more notable as we didn't notice these patterns in sea lions on Santa Fe, where they live without the presence of people or pets.
""The immune systems of San Cristobel sea lions were more active, perhaps indicating a threat of infectious disease, which could mean human activity is increasing the chance of potentially dangerous diseases emerging in the Galapagos sea lion," Dr Brock added.
Despite laws designed to protect the unique wildlife found on the Galapagos, pets are regularly imported to the islands, which increases the risk of new diseases arriving and spreading to local species. In addition, dumping of sewage into the bay on San Cristobal where the sea lions live may be increasing their exposure to germs and bacteria associated with humans.
ZSL, together with collaborators, will continue to address the threats faced by the Galapagos sea lion by carrying out further research into the methods driving the described patterns, such as the role that genetics plays in shaping them.
Editors' Notes
High res images
High resolution images available here: https://zslondon.sharefile.com/d/s4874439c0444620b
Copy of research paper here (after embargo): http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067132
Media Information
For more information please contact Smita Singh on 0207 449 6288 or email smita.singh@zsl.org
ZSL
Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Our mission is realised through our groundbreaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information visit http://www.zsl.org
The Galapagos Sea Lion
The Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) is found only on the Galapagos Archipelago in the Pacific. Its closest living relative is the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and their most recent common ancestor is estimated to have lived 2.3 ± 0.5 million years ago. The Galapagos sea lion has a polygynous mating system, which means that males mate with multiple females. Galapagos sea lion pups are cared for exclusively by their mothers until independence at about 2 years of age. Pups are born weighing approximately 6 kg; females grow to approximately 80 kg, while males may grow up to 250 kg. After remaining with their pup for 4 to 10 days following birth, Galapagos sea lion mothers alternate 1-2 day foraging trips with 1-2 day periods of nursing.
Collaborators:
Galapagos National Park, the University of Leeds, the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St. Andrew's and the Autonomous University of Queretaro
Journal
PLoS ONE