Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 11/11/2012 - 15:43
Forums
Weddell Seals in the Ross Sea

Hello - I'm really curious about the nutrition intake of the Weddell seals, particularly in regards to acquiring the necessary vitamins etc.

I've heard that an Inuit's diet must consist of raw seal (or other animal) meat to acquire certain necessities, such as Vitamin C. They must eat it raw because there are almost not vegetables available for large portions of the year, and cooking the meat would destroy the vitamins contained within. Vitamin C is acquired from the seal by humans, but if I'm not mistaken, they can synthesize their own Vitamin C, no?

I'm also curious about how the seals are acquiring their own necessary vitamins. Are they ONLY eating fish? Is there other supplemental dietary matter like some kind of sea weed? Or perhaps they are getting additional nutrients from the stomach contents of the fish they are eating...?

Thank you. - Justin

Mon, 11/12/2012 - 12:23

Alex Eilers

Wonderful question Justin!I've got to ask the experts on this one. Will let you know soon.
Alex

Mon, 11/12/2012 - 17:44

Anonymous

As far as I know, humans (primates) and guinea pigs are some of the only animals that CAN'T make their own Vitamin C. So seals would be able to make it. I've heard that the Inuits eat raw polar bear liver - a very good source of vitamin C! And yes, the meat must be eaten raw!

Mon, 11/12/2012 - 17:45

Anonymous

This is Julia - As far as I know, humans (primates) and guinea pigs are some of the only animals that CAN'T make their own Vitamin C. So seals would be able to make it. I've heard that the Inuits eat raw polar bear liver - a very good source of vitamin C! And yes, the meat must be eaten raw!

Thu, 11/15/2012 - 12:57

Alex Eilers

Hey Justin!
Here's a message from Dr. Burns...
Seals get all the nutrients that they need in a diet of fish and other marine critters (squid, krill, octopus, etc). They do not supplement with any algae or seaweed. Presumably, seals can biosynthesize any nutrients that they are not getting in their diet, but I am unaware of studies on this. When in captivity, seals are often fed a mineral and vitamin supplement, in part because freezing fish can destroy some nutrients, and because the variety in a aquarium diet is often less than there would be in the wild.
Best - Alex

Thu, 11/15/2012 - 14:03

Alex Eilers

And a not from Dr. Burns GA - Linnea...Seals can produce their own Vit C (ascorbic acid) in their liver, thus don't need to acquire it from dietary sources. Seals acquire their necessary nutrients from the fish they eat. There is no supplementation of the diet (they don't eat seaweed) but they do get some nutrition from whatever the fish has eaten, though I wouldn't imagine this is a large source of nutrients. Seals can also make more nutrients (like Vit C) that we can't.
Best - Alex