Cumulative effects of multiple stressors on marine mammals: Elephant seals as a model system

UC Santa Cruz, DOW
By: , and 
Edited by: Arthur N. PopperJoseph A. SisnerosPaul A. Lepper, and Kathleen J. Vigness-Raposa

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Abstract

Noise exposure is a potential stressor for free-ranging marine mammals and is often studied in the absence of other environmental factors. Here, a multi-investigator, interdisciplinary effort was undertaken to examine the response of elephant seals to multiple stressors. An integrated physiological and ecological approach was taken, including immunology, stress physiology, toxicology, animal behavior, population biology, and life history theory, to examine the cumulative effects of exposure to multiple stressors in elephant seals. While we measured the response of individual animals, a population response can be predicted by incorporating these results into the long-term data on elephant seal demographics.

Suggested Citation

Costa, D.P., Holser, R.R., Shipway, G.T., Favilla, A.B., McDonald, B.I., Shen, D.M., Diluzio, A.R., Peterson, S.H., Ackerman, J.T., and Crocker, D.E., 2026, Cumulative effects of multiple stressors on marine mammals: Elephant seals as a model system, chap. 1 of The effects of noise on aquatic life IV, p. 1-16, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94229-7_40-1.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Cumulative effects of multiple stressors on marine mammals: Elephant seals as a model system
Chapter 1
DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-94229-7_40-1
Publication Date April 24, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Springer Nature
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 16 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title The effects of noise on aquatic life IV
First page 1
Last page 16
Additional publication details