21 November 2015 Seals at Turtle Rock

Journal

Research Update

Today our team went to Turtle Rock to collect our last sediment samples from the seafloor. Turtle Rock is about 8 miles from McMurdo Station and is less affected by humans than our seafloor samples at the Station. Divers, including team member Terry Palmer, collected sediment samples and sealife from 40, 80 and 120 feet depths.

Michelle with organisms in dive hut — Michelle Brown holds a large sea star collected from the dive site at Turtle Rock.

Although it snowed in the morning, the afternoon was beautiful. It was so much fun to leave McMurdo Station and sample sediments at Turtle Rock!

Team B518 jumps for joy after a lovely day at Turtle Rock.

Seals on the Ice

Turtle Rock is a special place, especially around this time of year. At the end of October, Weddell seals give birth to their pups. Many of the mothers nurse their young around Turtle Rock. The mothers and seal pups were still there when we visited today. Weddell seals are safe from killer whales at Turtle Rock. The Weddell Seals can hold their breath for up to 45 minutes, which is longer than the killer whales. Therefore, the seals can reach Turtle Rock, swimming beneath the sea ice, while the killer whales cannot. In fact, no other mammal can survive where the seals can. They keep the holes near Turtle Rock and other locations open by scratching them with their teeth. Although the holes are often only large enough for their noses, it allows them to breath and stay alive! At Turtle Rock there are also cracks in the ice that let them get up to the surface.

While our dive team collected organisms and sediment samples, I took a moment to watch the seals surrounding our dive hut.

A Weddell Seal looks over at the camera after snoozing on the ice.

Turtle Rock and a Weddell Seal — A Weddell seal lies in front of Turtle Rock--an outcrop off the coast of Ross Island.

All About Seals

Weddell Seal pups are already born by early November. After 2 - 3 weeks, the mother begins to leave the pup alone for short periods of time. By 7 weeks, the pups are weaned and weigh 220 pounds or more. Mothers and pups use smell to identify each other. It is common to see mother and baby pups sniffing each other! However, the mother may reject the pup if it has an unfamiliar scent.

Newborn pup and mother seal — A newborn pup sleeps near a mother Weddell Seal.

Studying Seals

During our visit to Turtle Rock, three people arrived on snowmobiles to collect census data on the seals. They are part of a research team, operating since 1968, that has come to track the breeding populations of Weddell Seals since 1968. You can learn more about their work at: www.weddellsealscience.com

Researchers at Turtle Rock — A research team studying Weddell Seal populations stops by Turtle Rock to collect some data.

Life in Antarctica

Although there are lots of places at McMurdo Station that make me feel like I'm back at home, there are also moments that remind me that I am in Antarctica. I took in the beauty of the view South on my walk back to my dorm yesterday at 11 p.m.