Harbour Seals: Population Structure, Status, and Threats in a Rapidly Changing Environment
Résumé
The harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) is the world’s most widely distributed pinniped species
ranging from temperate to Arctic regions (30–78.5 N in the Atlantic, 28–61.2 N in the Pacific),
but no detailed overview of the species status exists. The aims of this review are to (i) provide
current information on the genetic structure, population status, and threats; (ii) review potential
consequences of a changing climate; and (iii) identify knowledge gaps to guide future research and
monitoring. Although the species is globally abundant, wide differences exist across the species’
broad range. As climate warms, populations at the edges of the species’ distributional range are likely
to be more affected. The primary climate-related drivers include: (i) changes in weather patterns,
which can affect thermoregulation; (ii) decrease in availability of haul-out substrates; (iii) large-scale
changes in prey availability and inter-specific competition; (iv) shifts in the range of pathogens; (v)
increase in temperature favouring the biotransformation of contaminants; and (vi) increased exposure
to pollutant from increased freshwater run-off. Multiple anthropogenic stressors may collectively
impact some populations. Coordinated monitoring efforts across and within regions is needed. This
would allow for a spatially explicit management approach including population-specific responses
to known stressors.