The Adler Planetarium
University of Minnesota
University of Oxford
The Adler Planetarium
University of Minnesota
University of Oxford
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Weddell Seal Count

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Weddell Seal Count

Are Antarctic Weddell seals threatened by fishing? By climate change? Help us find out.

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    Project launched June 9, 2017

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    Weddell seals are the best seals. Handsome, laid back, and extremely interesting!

    Weddell Seal Count

    About Weddell Seal Count

    Welcome to Weddell Seal Count!

    We took pictures of a Weddell seal colony every 10 minutes using automated cameras installed on top of a tiny island, Turtle Rock, in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Turtle Rock is surrounded by sea ice during spring, when the seals come here to have their pups. Every day, the seals dive through cracks in the sea ice and disappear for several hours. Based on the number of seals in each image, we can develop an algorithm that describes the activity cycle of Weddell seals and predict when they are visible. This information is essential for generating accurate abundance estimates of Weddell seals (e.g., using aerial or satellite observations) and monitor the state of the Ross Sea ecosystem.