Estimating the Blubber Content of Phocid Seals

Abstract

We have investigated the relationships between percent blubber content and xiphostemal blubber thickness or girth-to-length ratios in ringed seal (Phoca hispida), harp seal (Phoca groeniandica), and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). The blubber content was significantly correlated with blubber depths and girth-to-length ratios in all three species, in addition, we have developed an estimator for percent blubber content (the LMD-index) based on standard length (L, in meters), body mass (M, in kilograms), and on blubber thickness (d, in meters) measured at a defined position dorsally. From these variables the percent blubber content (B%) can be estimated by the expression B% = 4.44 + 5693 [Formula: see text], with a standard error of the estimate of three percentage units. This index also gave reasonable estimates for blubber content in three harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and eight bearded seals (Erignatus harbatus).