Loss of Habitat: Impacts on Pinnipeds and Their Welfare

Abstract

Pinnipeds around the world have been affected by habitat loss as a result of climate change and anthropomorphic activity, such as marine and coastal devel- opment. In addition to the physical reduction of available habitat, pinnipeds are impacted by secondary effects of habitat loss, such as disease and changes in prey availability. The impacts of global climate change are thought to be the most wide reaching, with changes in the availability and stability of sea and pack ice habitat expected to be most significant for at least 11 ice-associated species. Potential impacts on pinniped welfare occur as a result of changes in distribution and migra- tion patterns, increased pup mortality, reduced foraging success, and decrease in body condition. Reductions in survival due to increased storm activity, increased exposure to disease and parasites, and human development have also been observed.