Steller sea lion research > Nutritional Stress > Effects of Diet Changes

Effects of Diet Changes on Steller Sea Lion Populations
It has been suggested that Steller sea lion populations might be declining due to changes in distribution or type of food they are eating. Consortium scientists are conducting a number of studies with animals in the wild and in the laboratory to investigate whether different diets are affecting sea lion health and nutrition.

Behavioral Measures
Scientists are observing the behavior of Steller sea lions in the wild. In the summer, they watch how mothers and their pups behave on shore (how often they nurse or leave to forage for fish). In the spring and winter they watch the sea lions to determine how much time they spend at sea, and when the mothers wean their pups. They use high tech devices to remotely monitor where the sea lions are and when they are feeding and diving at sea.

Physiological Measures
Scientists also examine the physiology of Steller sea lions. They alter the diets of sea lions in the lab to measure the effect of different prey items and feeding regimes on their overall health and nutrition. They take blood samples and physical measurements that can be compared to data collected from sea lions in the wild.

                                                                         NEXT: Behavior of Steller sea lions >>>