Working with Seals to Explore the Deep

Wes Larson, a wildlife biologist, joins a research team at UC Santa Cruz to tag elephant seals. The team selects a suitable seal based on specific criteria and tags it to collect oceanographic data. The process involves challenges due to the seals' size and behavior. The research aims to understand the ocean better and highlights the conservation success of elephant seals, which were once nearly extinct.

What is the main goal of Wes Larson's journey?

• To explore new hiking trails

• To find the next generation of conservationists

• To document the history of Monterey Bay

• To study the migration patterns of birds

What specific criteria do researchers use to select an elephant seal for tagging?

• A male seal over 10 years old

• A female seal under 4 years old

• An adult female over 4 years old and under 13 years old

• Any seal that has been on the beach for a week

Why is the tagging process considered dangerous?

• The seals are protected by law

• The seals are always in the water

• The seals can move quickly and are unpredictable

• The seals are very small and hard to find

What type of data do the tags on the elephant seals collect?

• Oceanographic information

• Plant growth rates

• Weather patterns

• Migration routes of birds

How did the elephant seal population recover from near extinction?

• By moving to a new habitat

• Through a breeding program

• By being protected from hunting

• By changing their diet

What is one of the main benefits of using elephant seals for oceanographic research?

• They are easy to train

• They are immune to diseases

• They stay close to the shore

• They can dive deep and travel far

What lesson can be learned from the conservation success of elephant seals?

• Conservation efforts are always expensive

• Changing perceptions can lead to conservation success

• Wildlife cannot adapt to new environments

• Conservation is only about protecting land