NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Research

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The Sea Mammal Research Unit carries out fundamental, cutting-edge research on marine mammals in many different subject areas. This research is carried out worldwide with a core objective of understanding the causes and consequences of changes in populations. With ever increasing pressure on the world's oceans and it resources, marine mammals are consequently often impacted by man's marine activities. One of our main aims is to therefore determine the nature, magnitude and significance of these expanding interactions.

For more information please visit the NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit home page.

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Recent Submissions

Assessing the utility and limitations of accelerometers and machine learning approaches in classifying behaviour during lactation in a phocid seal

Schuert, Courtney; Pomeroy, Patrick; Twiss, Sean (2018-10-16) - Journal article

Background: Classifying behaviour with animal-borne accelerometers is quickly becoming a popular tool for remotely observing behavioural states in a variety of species. Most accelerometry work in pinnipeds has focused on ...
Sex-related differences in the postmolt distribution of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in the southern Weddell Sea

Langley, Izzy; Fedak, Mike; Nicholls, Keith; Boehme, Lars (2018-04) - Journal article

The population of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in the southern Weddell Sea is in a unique position on the continental shelf edge, with vast shelf waters to the south, and deep Southern Ocean to the north. We ...
Physiological constraints and energetic costs of diving behaviour in marine mammals : a review of studies using trained Steller sea lions diving in the open ocean

Rosen, David; Hindle, Allyson; Fahlman, Andreas; Gerlinsky, Carling; Goundie, Elizabeth; Hastie, Gordon Drummond; Volpov, Beth; Trites, Andrew (2017-01) - Journal article

Marine mammals are characterized as having physiological specializations that maximize the use of oxygen stores to prolong time spent under water. However, it has been difficult to undertake the requisite controlled studies ...
Inter- and intra-year variation in foraging areas of breeding kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla)

Robertson, G. S.; Bolton, M.; Grecian, W. J.; Monaghan, P. (2014-09) - Journal article

While seabird conservation efforts have largely focused on protection from threats at the colony (e.g. reducing disturbance and predation), attention is increasingly being given to implementing protection measures for ...
Contrasting migratory responses of two closely-related seabirds to long-term climate change

Grecian, W. James; Taylor, Graeme A.; Loh, Graeme; McGill, Rona A. R.; Miskelly, Colin M.; Phillips, Richard A.; Thompson, David R.; Furness, Robert W. (2016-11-09) - Journal article

Many marine predators migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas to target resources that are seasonal but spatio-temporally predictable, and so are vulnerable to climate-induced changes in prey phenology and abundance. ...