Domoic acid threat to monk seals
I saw some info today (on PBS), regarding domoic acid. Research blames pollution from river runoff. This can apparently cause systemic brain deterioration in monk seals (?) Can you please explain in somewhat more detail?
– Carroll Dorrill.
 Editor’s reply: Dr. Frances Gulland, Director of Veterinary Science at The Marine Mammal Center, was actually referring to the domoic acid impact on sea lions in this particular case. The acid is produced by toxic algae and accumulates in sea lion prey. The Marine Mammal Center states that: “Exposures to the biotoxin results in brain damage to sea lions, causing them to become lethargic, disoriented, and have seizures that sometimes result in death.”
The MMC is also involved in treatment of orphaned Hawaiian monk seals – the possible source of the confusion in this case. We are unaware of toxic algae being a recognised threat to the Hawaiian monk seal, although a toxic “red tide” caused by a dinoflagellate bloom was blamed for wiping out two thirds of the Mediterranean monk seal population at Cap Blanc (Mauritania/Western Sahara) in 1997.
For further information, see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3517_ocean911.html
http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/science/top-research-projects/domoic-acid-toxicity.html
Genetic scepticism
Re. First comprehensive genetic study of the Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern Mediterranean, TMG news blog, 17 July 2010.
The Hellenic Society for the Study & Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm) has been in existence how long – since 1988 or something. Makes you wonder what they have been doing during those 20 years if, as Alexandros Karamanlidis asserts, conservation is being hampered by a "substantial lack of information on the animals’ biology". Quite apart from that, are we really supposed to believe genetic studies will have any bearing whatever on the main threats to the species? – shooting by fishermen, drowning in nets, loss of habitat? If the clock is ticking on the survival of the species, why not spend the money and effort on something demonstrably useful?
– J.J. Wilcox, U.K.
TMG shouldn't really be reporting these fallacies as though they were the gospel scientific truth. This expensive exercise will not end up helping one single seal, or prevent one single death. If it's for scientific curiosity, OK, admit it, but don't pretend it's got anything to do with conservation.
– David Mitchell, USA.
Editor’s reply: We thank the readers above for their contribution. TMG was established back in 1998 partly in the hope that free and open debate would help improve conservation of the critically endangered Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seals.
Although we seek to publish as diverse a range of views as possible, we emphasise that the opinions expressed by outside contributors do not necessarily reflect those of The Monachus Guardian.
If you have an opinion you would like to air on monk seal conservation generally, or on news items or articles published on this site in particular, please write to us at
. And remember, you can also post your comments in ‘real time’ (well, following the moderator’s OK), on the news blog.
The editor reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of clarity and space
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