A stellar experience: researching Steller sea lions in the Aleutian Islands
Spending a few weeks this summer with NOAA’s Marine Mammal Laboratory in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, UW Marine Biology student Samantha-Lynn Martinez was up close and personal with Steller sea lions.
Protected under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA monitors two populations of Steller sea lions, and Samantha-Lynn’s focus was on the Western Population which are found throughout the Gulf of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and into Russia and Japan.
Putting her love for marine science and cameras to use, Samantha-Lynn joined the team who use different UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) and imaging techniques to research abundance, movements and vital rates, and diet and foraging behavior of the sea lion population.
Research such as this plays a critical role in delivering new insights into Steller sea lions and their role in marine ecosystem while also informing management and conservation efforts.
Her favorite experience? Handling sea lion pups, with some chosen for monitoring throughout their lifetime to provide information on mortality, birthing rates, health, and migration. Baby sea lions can be 50-100 pounds, with males growing to over 2,500 pounds once fully grown.
