Forums
Weddell Seals in the Ross Sea

Thanks Alex for posting the cool journal about the seals. My students really enjoy the wildlife; I can't wait to show them your journal and link when we get back from fall break! Great idea to ave them estimate how far the seals are traveling. Sorry I can't remember the specifics of your previous journals; are there certain currents the Weddell's follow?

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 09:40

Anonymous

Thanks so much for your comments Susan!I am thrilled your students will be following the team’s adventures! Just to make sure I have an accurate answer to your question about the currents - I have sent an e-mail to the team. Hope to hear from them soon!
All the best - Alex

Fri, 10/19/2012 - 08:32

Alex Eilers

Hey again,
Just heard back from one of the scientists and my initial thought was correct... Weddell seals don't seem to follow a specific current, but sometimes their food does and they do follow their food! In the case of the Weddell seals, during the winter a lot of them seem to go to the edge of the continental shelf to a water mass called the "Circumpolar Deep Water" which deep, slightly warmer (relatively of course) water that brings lots of nutrients with it to the shelf. Lots of nutrients means more fish food - therefore more fish. So while the seals follow the food, sometimes the food follows the currents (or in this case, the water mass).
Hope this helps!
Alex

Wed, 10/31/2012 - 16:06

Anonymous

Thanks Alex, that makes sense! I appreciate your taking the time to find the answer. And now we can look at Circumpolar Deep water when we get to our oceanography unit!