Kyle Kolda, graduate student in the UAA Department of Biological Sciences, is spending this semester in the computer lab and the library, preparing for the arduous task of writing a master’s thesis.

“My thesis focuses on the dive behavior and physiology of northern fur seals on St. Paul Island,” Kolda explained, “but it is part of a larger research project that aims to understand how closely Alaska seals and sea lions approach their physiological limits while diving.” 

Kolda describes his research interests as revolving around “understanding the physiological constraints of pinnipeds and seabirds in order to predict their tolerance to future environmental stressors.” Pinnipeds are the clade of animals which include seals, sea lions and walruses. 

While Kolda’s research involved using data collected by NOAA, his thesis program did not originally have a fieldwork component. However, after meeting with NOAA's Polar Ecosystem Program in October 2023 for a data transfer, Kolda was invited to participate on a research cruise in the spring. 

With the support of his advisor, UAA’s Amy Bishop, Ph.D., Kolda took the opportunity to collaborate with NOAA's Marine Mammal Laboratories to study the Bering Sea’s ice seals. 

Locating the ice seals

Kolda and the NOAA Fisheries team departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska aboard the R/V Norseman II on April 15, 2024, aiming to gather data on the health and ecology of ribbon and spotted seals. It took nearly a week to reach the sea ice near St. Matthew’s Island, during which time the team aboard the vessel endured high winds, freezing rain and seasickness. 

The vessel reached the ice on April 19 and the research team spent the following days preparing to find and capture ice seals. The team searched for pinnipeds from the R/V Norseman II’s bridge and observation deck using binoculars and telescopes.

The first ice seal was spotted on April 21. “From our binoculars, she was a small dark round blip in an endless sea of white and blue,” Kolda said, “Through the scope, we could see the remarkable black and white bands indicative of an adult ribbon seal.”

The team launched an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) drone for an aerial view, but low fog obscured the seal. Another seal was spotted the following day, and the UAS was launched again, this time successfully capturing aerial images of the ribbon seal. Over the duration of the trip, the team  successfully flew over dozens of seals, taking thousands of pictures. 

Up close data collection

In the following days and weeks, the team focused on capturing seals to directly collect more data. This required team members to leave the R/V Norseman II and use smaller craft to land directly on  ice floes where the pinnipeds haul-out. 

“Capturing ice seals is an integral part of this work, but it’s easier said than done,” Kolda said. “The Bering Sea is an extremely dynamic environment. Wind and ocean currents work together to pull and twist ice floes faster than you can imagine, changing landscapes in a matter of minutes.”

After using a net to safely capture and secure a seal, the team would weigh the animal, measure its length and blubber thickness, draw blood and attach a telemetry tag to track the seal via satellite after release. According to Kolda, “Data on ice seals is relatively rare, and this information will be used to create baselines of health for ribbon and spotted seals in the Bering Sea.” 

Kolda also assisted the team by collecting fecal samples left on the sea ice by the pinnipeds that the team was unable to capture. “Fecal samples can tell us about an animal’s diet, range and health,” explained Kolda, “Because ice seals spend much of their time in the water, these samples are hard to come by and exciting to find.”

Looking ahead

After the research cruise, Kolda wrote a series of articles about the experience for NOAA Fisheries science blog. Currently, he’s writing his thesis with a better appreciation for how data is collected in the field. 

“Although the ice seal data won't be included in my thesis, it was important for me to understand how this data was collected and gain experience in deploying telemetry devices,” said Kolda.

More importantly, Kolda notes that the data collected during the trip is essential for pinniped conservation: “Insights gained from this research voyage will be crucial in protecting ice seals during a period of rapid change in the Arctic.”