Physiological effects of seawater intake in adult harp seals during phase I of fasting

Storeheier, P. V.; Nordøy, Erling S.

doi:10.1016/s1095-6433(00)00311-1

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Reniculate kidneys have an increased medullary thickness allowing the production of urine with an increased osmolality to reduce urinary water loss (Bester 1975; Vardy and Bryden 1981). Marine mammals are able to produce urine with an osmolality well above that of seawater (1000 mOsm kg −1 ) (Ortiz et al 1996; Skog and Folkow 1994; Storeheier and Nordøy 2001). The highest urine osmolality measured in a marine mammal was 2658 mOsm kg −1 in a common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) (Ridgway 1972).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Albrecht (1950) observed that harbour seals do not tolerate seawater and that they vomit and get diarrhoea after orally administering a seawater volume of 3.3% of their body mass. Storeheier and Nordøy (2001), on the other hand, observed that after a seawater bolus administration (2% of the body mass) through a stomach tube in harp seals ( Phoca groenlandica ), urine osmolality remained stable and above seawater levels. They further observed that the animals were able to concentrate urinary sodium and chloride to levels above seawater.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups ingest snow and seawater during their post-weaning fast

2016

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of exogenous water intake (snow/seawater) in hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups during their post-weaning fast. In this study, five hooded seal pups had ad lib access to snow and seawater for the first 12 and last 21 days of their post-weaning fast, respectively. Total body water and water flux were determined during both exposure periods by use of the tritiated water method. Blood samples were collected to monitor changes in hematocrit, plasma urea and plasma osmolality. Body mass loss was on average 0.36 kg day−1. Average total body water changed from 15.7 to 11.4 L, while total water influx changed from 15 to 18 mL day−1 kg−1 during snow and seawater exposure, respectively. Of this influx an average of 35% can be attributed to metabolic water, while approximately 8% was due to respiratory water influx. Interestingly, 56 and 58% of the total water influx was due to snow and seawater ingestion, respectively, amounting to 8 mL day−1 kg−1 snow (counted as liquid water) and 10 mL day−1 kg−1 seawater. Based on the results of the plasma parameters it is concluded that fasting hooded seal pups maintain water balance and homeostasis when access to snow or seawater is permitted. It is further concluded that snow and seawater intake, in addition to metabolic and respiratory water, is important for maintenance of water balance and excretion of urea during the post-weaning fast of hooded seal pups.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00360-016-1048-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups ingest snow and seawater during their post-weaning fast

2016

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“…Some of these protozoans have been reported in molluscs, which can filter large volumes of water and be sources of infection for invertebrate-eating sea otters (Lindsay et al, 2001a;Arkush et al, 2003) or humans. Cetaceans and pinnipeds, except walrus and bearded seals, are not known to consume molluscs to any significant degree but might become infected by drinking small quantities of fresh or salt water (see Ridgeway, 1972;Skalstad and Nordøy, 2000;Storeheier and Nordøy, 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Canadian Pinnipeds

Measures

Dubey

LaBelle

et al. 2004

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Sera (nϭ328) collected from phocids from the east coast of Canada, including harp seals (Phoca groenlandica), hooded seals (Cystophora cristata), grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), were diluted 1:25, 1:50, and 1:500 and tested by a modified agglutination test for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Titers equal to or greater than 1:25 were considered evidence of exposure. Grey seal (11/122, 9%), harbor seal (3/34, 9%), and hooded seal (1/60, 2%) had titers of 1:25 and 1:50. Harp seals (nϭ112) were seronegative. Probable maternal antibody transfer was observed in one harbor and one grey seal pup at 10 and 14 day of age, respectively. Transmission of T. gondii in the marine environment is not understood. The discovery of T. gondii in marine mammals might indicate natural infections unknown because of lack of study or might indicate recent contamination of the marine environment from the terrestrial environment by natural or anthropogenic activities.

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“…Consumption of either sand, stones, or kelp, could therefore have been associated with dehydration as well as starvation in these animals, perhaps reflecting some form of displacement behavior. Harp seals and hooded seals can drink seawater, which may be beneficial to ion-deficient animals but may not provide them with a net gain of water (Storeheier and Nordøy, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Status of Harp Seals (Phoca Groenlandica) and Hooded Seals (Cystophora Cristata) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, Concurrent With Their Expanding Range

Lucas¹,

Daoust

Conboy

et al. 2003

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Beach surveys for harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded (Cystophora cristata) seals documented a dramatic increase in their numbers on Sable Island in mid 1990s. In the 1980s, no more than five animals of both species were observed on this island each year, however, during late 1994 to 1998, 1,191 harp and 870 hooded seals, mostly young animals, were recorded. Although some of these seals had been killed by sharks, most (roughly 75%) were found alive or as intact carcasses on the beach, and some of the live seals were later found dead. Emaciation/ starvation was considered the primary cause of death in seals that were not obviously killed by sharks. Factors that may have compounded this poor body condition included gastric impaction with abnormal ingesta, hemorrhagic diathesis possibly induced by parasitic migration and secondary vasculitis, and stomatitis (in hooded seals only). Some harp and hooded seals expanding their range in recent years may be unable to feed successfully, although the reasons for this are unclear.

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Physiological effects of seawater intake in adult harp seals during phase I of fasting

Cited by 17 publications

References 25 publications

Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups ingest snow and seawater during their post-weaning fast

Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) pups ingest snow and seawater during their post-weaning fast

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Canadian Pinnipeds

Health Status of Harp Seals (Phoca Groenlandica) and Hooded Seals (Cystophora Cristata) on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, Concurrent With Their Expanding Range

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