Collaborative Research: Exploring the Vulnerability of Southern Ocean Pinnipeds to Climate Change - An Integrated Approach

在先前资助的NSF研究的基础上，使用来自沿着干谷和维多利亚陆地海岸发现的木乃伊海象尸体的古生物学和古遗传学数据，这些尸体位于今天太冷而无法支持海豹群体（Mirougina leonina;南部海象; SES）的地区，支持这些海豹以前在该地区的存在。这些SES殖民地的出现和随后的消失与全新世气候向公元前1000年更冷条件的重大转变一致。 对其他三种丰富的鳍足类化石的进一步分析？将对食蟹龙（Lobodon carciophagus）、威德尔（Leptonychotes weddelli）和豹（Hydrurga leptonyx）进行研究，以跟踪其种群规模（通过DNA分析揭示）和饮食（通过稳定同位素分析研究）的变化。结合已知的这些物种在生活史、偏好冰栖地和生态系统敏感性方面的差异，这些古气候代用数据将被用来评估它们在过去~1- 2000年期间对罗斯海区域气候变化的暴露和敏感性

Building on previously funded NSF research, the use of paleobiological and paleogenetic data from mummified elephant seal carcasses found along the Dry Valleys and Victoria Land Coast in areas that today are too cold to support seal colonies (Mirougina leonina; southern elephant seals; SES) supports the former existence of these seals in this region. The occurrence and then subsequent disappearance of these SES colonies is consistent with major shifts in the Holocene climate to much colder conditions at the last ~1000 years BCE). Further analysis of the preserved remains of three other abundant pinnipeds ? crabeater (Lobodon carciophagus), Weddell (Leptonychotes weddelli) and leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) will be studied to track changes in their population size (revealed by DNA analysis) and their diet (studied via stable isotope analysis). Combined with known differences in life history, preferred ice habitat and ecosystem sensitivity among these species, this paleoclimate proxy data will be used to assess their exposure and sensitivity to climate change in the Ross Sea region during the past ~1-2,000 years