Annual population counts of multiple species of seal, Signy Island, 1974-2024

The seal population on Signy Island has been monitored since 1974. The total number of adult seals were counted in February each year. The island was divided into 6 zones, and the number of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and other seal species in each zone were counted, typically over several days. For fur seals the number of pups, white seals and entangled seals were also recorded. The first recorded count was conducted in 1974 and counts have been done annually since 1985. This work is carried out to support the conservation of higher predators at Signy.

This work was funded by Natural Environment Research Council (UK) core funding to the British Antarctic Survey.

Alternate title: Polar Data Centre (PDC) record GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/02026

Date (Publication): 2025-03-05

Citation identifier: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/dms/metadata.php?id= / GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/02026

Point of contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
British Antarctic Survey		pdc@bas.ac.uk	Custodian
NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre	Dunn, M., Waluda, C., Adlard, S., Lynnes, A., Fox, D., Briggs, D., & Morley, T.	pdc@bas.ac.uk	Originator

Maintenance and update frequency: Unknown

Keywords

NDGO0001

NERC OAI Harvesting

NERC_DDC

GCMD Parameter Valids

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Population Dynamics

BAS Free-text keywords

Antarctic Fur Seal
Arctocephalus gazella
Elephant Seal
Leptonychotes weddellii
Mirounga leonina
Seal count
Weddell Seal

Use limitation: This data is governed by the NERC data policy ( http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/data/policy/) and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/).

Access constraints: Other restrictions

Other constraints: This data is governed by the NERC data policy ( http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/data/policy/) and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/).

Language: English

Topic category

Biota

Begin date: 1974-01-01

End date: 2024-03-31

Reference system identifier: OGP / urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Distribution format

Distributor contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
Polar Data Centre - British Antarctic Survey		pdc@bas.ac.uk	Distributor

OnLine resource

Protocol	Linkage	Name
http	http://ramadda.data.bas.ac.uk/repository/entry/show?entryid=8e910ac8-6f52-4548-bbcb-78474b559294	GET DATA

Hierarchy level: Dataset

Domain consistency

Measure identification: INSPIRE / Conformity_001

Conformance result

Title: INSPIRE Data Specification on unknown theme Guidelines

Date

Explanation: See the referenced specification

Pass: No

Statement: Annual surveys followed consistent methodology led by experienced biologists. All personnel were familiar with identifying the three species of seal and care was always taken to examine all areas on the surveys, in order to ensure no seals were missed. Surveys took place in dry and calm weather conditions as high levels of precipitation and strong winds are known to drive large numbers of Antarctic fur seals into the sea for the duration of a storm at Signy Island. Years with no data indicate personnel had not arrived on Signy in time to carry out this activity. For additional information see Waluda et al 2010.