Environmental Changes as Seen Through
Marine Mammal Species
By: Sierra Nollen
November 16th, 2014
Environmental Sociology with Dr. Kennedy
Introduction:
The Marine Mammal Center located in California is a facility dedicated to the
rehabilitation of stranded and sick marine mammals. Through these opportunities, the
facility has dedicated its time to research and education. Since 1975, over 18,000 marine
animals have been treated. These 18,000 individuals have made it possible for researchers
to study the correlation of marine mammal health and the health of the ocean. Through
this research, our knowledge has expanded and has equipped us to educate the general
public and to express the dire need to take care of our main source of water and the home
to millions of diverse species—the ocean.
The Marine Mammal Center has aided in extensive research of Domoic Acid
poisoning. The toxin that causes domoic acid poisoning is produced by red algae. This
toxin accumulates in fish and shellfish which are prey for marine mammals and eaten by
humans. This biotoxin causes exposed individuals to become lethargic, disoriented, and
have seizures due to its affect on the brain. In Buckmasters paper, it is shown that humans
and California sea lions are affected similarly by domoic acid. With this information, it
can be said that sea lions can be utilized to test for domoic acid, for research in new
experimental treatments, and to be potential research models for other marine diseases.
More research done through the use of the Marine Mammal Center has showed a
correlation between the health of marine mammals and the health of the ocean. The rise
in diseases and stranding’s of marine species prove that there must be something going
on that we have not necessarily been aware of. The increase in diseases is due to
ecosystem shifts caused by climate change and pollution. In other research, it is shown
that climate change can be related to human interaction with the environment. Many of
these new pathogens that have been brought about because of climate change are
zoonotic pathogens that could infect humans (Moore 2014). Another major concern is
with the indigenous people of Alaska and the arctic who rely on marine mammals for
food. These people are eating animals with high heavy metal levels, zoonotic diseases,
and could be filled with biotoxins. Without proper monitoring of populations of marine
mammals, research cannot do all it can to protect the ocean and its affects on human
populations.
Another important factor that the Marine Mammal Center pushes is education.
The mission of the facility is to “expand knowledge about marine mammals—their health
and that of their ocean environment—and to inspire their global conservation.” (Marine
Mammal Center 2014). Research is a definitive way to get knowledge out into the world,
but the general public does not utilize research articles. In order to educate the people of
the world, The Marine Mammal Center has several school programs to educate children
and has a volunteer program for adults to get involved. Still though, there is a need to
educate people who are not local to California, and this can be done through animals in
human care at zoo’s and aquariums. Many marine mammals that live in a zoo or
aquarium are there because the individual had been deemed “un-releasable” through the
marine mammal protection act. An animal can be deemed un-releasable because it has
either been abandoned as a baby, been stranded due to medical reasons, or has been
effected by humans so much that it would be dangerous for it to be in the wild. Through
proper care and training, these animals can be utilized in educational performances to
inspire the general public to take care of the ocean. Throughout the last two decades,
pollutants in the marine environments have declined. Presentations in zoos and aquariums
began in the late 1970’s, and spread rapidly into the 1990’s. With the ability of
widespread education of pollution in the ocean and individuals with a passion for oceanic
wildlife, people and large companies have become more aware of the consequences
related to pollution. The Marine Mammal Center alone educates over 50,000 students per
year through school programs and events and has over 100,000 visitors each year. If it
were not for facilities like the Marine Mammal Center, other facilities who focus on the
conservation and keeping of animals would not have the means to spread this passion
through educational presentations unless the animals were taken directly from the wild.
Animals who have been rehabilitated have been given the opportunity to continue to live
and thrive, even if they would not be capable to in the wild.
I chose to discuss points on the Marine Mammal Center because I am passionate
about marine mammals and fully respect the research and effort put into the facilities
mission. I believe the research done through the studying of the animals in the facilities
care is extremely important in understanding the oceanic environment and how it effects
species living in and around the ocean, including humans.
Methods:
Information acquired for this paper was acquired through research papers found
through the Marine Mammal Center and found by searching for related fields of interest.
The main idea was formed through previous knowledge of domoic acid in California sea
lions learned through my previous job at the Oklahoma City Zoo. One of the sea lions in
the zoos collection was born to a mother with domoic acid poisoning who could not take
care of her, therefore deeming her to be raised under human care. Through my previous
job I have also obtained knowledge of ocean pollution and what we can do to help
prevent it.
Results:
The Marine Mammal Center is dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of marine
mammals on the coast of California who could otherwise not survive on their own. They
treat the animals in efforts to release them back into the wild as healthy individuals.
Through further research and the ability to use tracking devices on released animals, it
has been shown that some of the same animals have been re-admitted to the facility due
to specific diseases that have long-term effects. These diseases have a correlation to the
health of the ocean as a whole and how anthropogenic factors have increased certain
diseases. The Marine Mammal Center has dedicated its time and money into finding new
ways to research further correlations and ways we can prevent further detrimental effects
in marine mammal species and in humans. By studying marine mammals, it has lead to a
greater understanding of our greatest resource. The ocean is our largest reservoir of water
and is full of life; and without it, life on earth would not be easy. Millions of diverse
species live in the ocean, yet thousands are still unknown, but this number is steadily
declining because of human interaction. Over-fishing, pollution, under-water oil rigs, and
illegal hunting of animals are just a few ways humans have negatively affected the ocean
environment. The Marine Mammal Center uses what they know through research to
educate the public of what we can do to protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
The Marine Mammal center is a major resource and partner with several
universities and organizations who study the ocean. They have been conducting research
since their start in 1975 and have had many great discoveries. Largest of which include
the first case of domoic acid poisoning in a California sea lion, surges of leptospirosis in
sea lions that happen every 4-5 years, and the high prevalence of cancer in stranded sea
lions. Each one of these projects still has further research to be completed but has already
lead to many answers (The Marine Mammal Center 2014). The importance of
understanding these diseases in marine mammals could help us to understand the tracking
of disease and toxins and how they make it out into the open ocean or if they have been
generated there. The increase in cancer within sea lion populations proves that pollution
is taking a toll on the environment. Cancer cells are formed through mutations of genetic
material, which can be influenced by outside pollutants such as chemical contaminants. If
these pollutants can cause cancer in marine mammals, then they can in terrestrial
mammals as well.
Along with all of the opportunities the Marine Mammal Center can provide, there
are also some setbacks and limitations. Though the rehabilitated animals can be given
treatments for certain diseases, it is not likely for these treatments to be further
monitored. Due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, wild sea lions cannot be held in
captivity for an extended period of time or have electrodes implanted into them for
further monitoring. This lack of monitoring leads to experimental limitations, but there
are a couple ways to make up for it. Even though the most efficient way to collect data is
not possible due to the protection act, indirect measurements can still be obtained. For
example, re-stranding rates, movement, diving patterns, and migration can all be used as
constructive data. (Buckmaster 2014). Another setback to the movement as a whole of
marine mammal research and care is the false information that the general public has
been lead to believe through movies like Blackfish and organizations like Peta. These
anti-movements have put the world at a major setback because it is delaying the progress
that could be made in information regarding marine mammals and the ocean as a whole.
If the Marine Mammal Center along with zoos and aquariums were fully supported by the
public, I am sure there would be plenty of opportunity to make progress on the findings
in oceanic diseases and climate change. This constant battle makes it difficult to remain
focused on the main goal and leads to distractions related to the idea of legislation being
passed to release animals under human care, cancel breeding programs, and discontinue
the ability for facilities to receive marine mammals. Even with all of these setbacks, the
Marine Mammal Center continues to give optimal care and provide excellent research to
the scientific community.
Discussion:
I see the Marine Mammal Center as an important bridge between wild animals
and human communities. Through rehabilitation of wild marine mammals, researchers
have discovered several alarming mortality causes and ways humans have negatively
effected the environment. With the centers newest addition in Hawaii, Ke kai Ola
Hawaiin Monk Seal Hospital, they have set out to further protect and rehabilitate even
more species of marine mammals like the Hawaiin monk seal. The drastic need for
specialized facilities like Ke Kai Ola is obvious due to the steady decline in many
endangered species. By helping marine mammal species thrive and survive, we are also
helping the ocean environment stabilize and keep other oceanic species populations
stable. The ocean is our greatest resource and once it is polluted and empty of diversity, it
will have become irreversible. One of the most severe environmental problems that affect
the entire globe is biological diversity. Human caused factors have caused an increasing
rate of species and population extinction as well as caused rapid deterioration of marine
ecosystems. This extremity relates to the human population because nearly 60% of the
world’s population lives in coastal communities and 20% of ecosystems close by oceans
have been modified. Several marine mammal species have become extinct or are near
extinction due to over exploitation and other anthropogenic factors (Pompa 2011). With a
majority of the world living so near to coastal regions, if the ocean becomes fully
polluted, many people’s food sources will no longer be available.
Many indigenous people who depend on marine mammals and other oceanic
species for food during the time of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster have a raised
concern for the potential of radiation in food sources. With this same disaster, there has
been a huge loss in sea ice, ocean acidification, and a raise in average sea temperature.
Marine mammals have to change migration patterns and haul out locations in order to
remain resilient to these changes. When changing migratory patterns, marine mammals
could be influenced by being introduced to different infectious diseases and toxins than
what they have previously been affected by. Each of these changes in the environment
has been indirectly caused by human interaction. There are also direct anthropogenic
activities that cause harm to these animals and the environment. Since the decline of sea
ice, there are now new territories for fisheries to obtain resources and commercial
shipping has gained new possible routes. With the possibility of more ocean traffic to
unexposed waters, marine species will be exposed to new pollution, habitat degradation,
collision with ships, invasive species and toxins from other waters, increased noise
pollution, and even the potential for chemical exposure due to collisions or accidents
(Moore 2014). Many animals taken in by the Marine Mammal Center have been shown
to be previously malnourished due to living conditions in the wild. This malnutrition
could be due to being sick or by the lack of food in an area.
It is safe to say that fisheries have taken into new technologies and can catch fish
in areas they have not been able to previously. The large increase in marine fisheries has
lead to declining numbers in fish populations and habitat degradation (O’Shea 2008). If
this continues at the rate it is currently, there will not be enough fish to provide nutrition
for marine mammals currently in existence. Without marine mammals, fish populations
will expand exponentially, leading to a huge decrease in smaller fish, crustaceans, and
algae—leading to the inevitable decline of all ocean species. If overfishing makes up for
the lack of marine mammals, there will then be an exponential increase of small fish,
crustaceans, and huge algal blooms that would have major effects to the world’s
ecosystem. Every part of the environment is just as important as the other and without
one, it could all fail. Marine mammal health can show us the effects of further pollution
and the possibility of how it will in turn effect humans. It is important for different fields
of research to collaborate and share information to put resources together and see the big
picture and realize that we are all fighting for the same thing, a healthy environment to
call home.
Conclusion:
Further research into the actions of the Marine Mammal Center and related
organizations have provided insight and knowledge of the huge impact that we as the
human population can have on the environment. Just by giving marine mammals a
second chance, we can discover the unknown. We can either be a resource in protecting
the environment or we can continue on with our selfish, resource depleting ways to
further push the environment into a polluted mess. Through life experiences, I have
learned that it is impossible to get everyone to agree. Even if we just get the majority to
agree on protecting the environment through changing our ways, I believe we could make
an impact. I take it among myself to do my part and help educate the public of the
positive and negative impacts we can have on marine mammals, the ocean, and the
environment as a whole.
References:
Buckmaster, Paul; Xiling Wen; Izumi Toyoda; Frances Gulland; and William Van
Bonn. “Hippocampal Neuropathology of Domoic Acid-Induced Epilepsy in
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). The journal of Comparative
Neurology. (2014). 1691-1703. Print.
Jenssen, Bjorn. “Marine pollution: The Future Challenge is to Link Human and
Wildlife Studies.” Environmental Health Perspectives. (2003). 198-199. Print.
Moore, Sue; and Frances Gulland. “Linking marine mammal and ocean health in the
‘New Normal’ arctic.” Ocean and Coastal Management. (2014). 55-57. Print
O’Shea, Thomas, and Daniel Odell. “Large-Scale marine Ecosystem Change and the
Conservation of Marine Mammals.” Journal of Mammology. (2008). 529-533.
Print.
Pompa, Sandra; Paul Ehrlich; and Gerardo Ceballos. “Global distribution and
conservation of marine mammals.” PNAS. (2011). 13600-13605. Print.
The Marine Mammal Center. Web. Accessed 16 November 2014.
http://www.marinemammalcenter.org