Hawaiian Monk Seal Research
The Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) works to enhance the recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal by studying their biology, ecology and natural history. The HMSRP monitors and assesses the six main monk seal reproductive subpopulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) as well as the increasing subpopulation in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). In addition, the HMSRP investigates threats to Hawaiian monk seal survival and works to mitigate factors impeding the species recovery. More...
News and Highlights
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May 8, 2013
The PIFSC Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program has submitted a permit request to continue the Center's efforts to mitigate Galapagos shark predation on monk seals at French Frigate Shoals (FFS) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. More... -
April 26, 2013
It's springtime, and Hawaiian monk seal pupping season has begun. The first pup was born on March 3 at Kure Atoll, located at the far end of the chain in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). More... -
April 26, 2013
In March 2013, an eight year old adult female seal (RI37) that is occasionally observed on Oahu gave birth to a presumptive stillborn pup near Punaluu, Oahu. More... -
April 26, 2013
French Frigate Shoals, located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), hosts one of the largest pup producing subpopulations of Hawaiian monk seals. More... -
April 26, 2013
Through the JIMAR visiting scientist program, Dr. Alexey Altukhov from the Russian Academy of Science and North Pacific Wildlife Consulting (http://www.northpacificwildlife.com/about_us.htm), was hosted by the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) for a week in February to direct fabrication of two remote camera systems similar to those used to monitor the abundance of Steller sea lions at their remote northern Pacific rookeries. More... -
April 24, 2013
PIFSC scientists annually survey the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), where most of the population resides and where the abundance of monk seals is declining. More...
Recent Staff Publications
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April 27, 2013Dietary comparison of two Hawaiian monk seal populations: the role of diet as a driver of divergent population trendsCahoon MK, Littnan CL, Longenecker K, Carpenter JR
[2013] Endangered Species Research 20: 137-146. DOI: 10.3354/esr00491 -
April 27, 2013Body growth in Hawaiian monk sealsBaker JD, Johanos TC, Wurth TA, Littnan CL
[2013] Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12035 -
January 8, 2013Identification of ciguatoxins in Hawaiian monk seals Monochus schauinslandi from the Northwestern and main Hawaiian IslandsBottein M-Y D, Kashinsky L, Wang Z, Littnan C, Ramsdell JS
[2011] Environmental Science and Technology 45: 5403-5409. DOI: 10.1021/es2002887 -
November 26, 2012Relative influence of climate variability and direct anthropogenic impact on a sub-tropical Pacific top predator, the Hawaiian monk sealBaker JD, Howell EA, Polovina JJ
[2012] Marine Ecology Progress Series 469: 175-189. DOI: 10.3354/meps09987 -
September 26, 2012Non-lethal efforts to deter shark predation of Hawaiian monk seal pupsGobush KS, Farry SC
[2012] Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 22: 751-761. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2272 -
August 16, 2012Persistent organic pollutants in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) from the main Hawaiian IslandsLopez J, Boyd D, Ylitalo GM, Littnan C, Pearce R
[2012] Marine Pollution Bulletin. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.07.012
