Observation Essay about a Park

The present study sought to understand how Zalophus Californianus, the California sea lion, reacts to directions when swimming. In this case, the hypothesis for the research was that there is no particular direction of swimming that the sea lions swim towards. The hypothesis was based on the fact that among the issues that have been covered already by other researchers and observation stances, there is no particular investigation that addresses the issue of directions. Some of the background facts that relate to the point in issue have been covered by NOAA Fisheries. The institution aids in the conservation of California sea lions. Research evidence alludes to the fact that this organization developed collaborative frameworks that are fused with the other entities in California to protect the species. In terms of the methods and materials used in the research, I visited the Central Park Zoo on November 06, 2019, at 11:22 AM, when the average temperature was 50 degrees. The sampling methods used included the Ad libitum sampling and focal animal sampling. At the close of the investigation, it is concluded that that the sea lions swim in the clockwise direction more than the anticlockwise, as shown by 63% and 37% respectively. Therefore, the findings of the research object to the hypothesis.

Following the research that is already documented on the Zalophus Californianus, the California sea lions, it is evident that there is already information concerning their habitat, how they breed, their social settings, and their appearance. However, the previous studies miss out on addressing the issue related to the swimming direction often adopted by the Zalophus Californianus. Therefore, the paper seeks to address the research question relating to the directions taken by California sea lions when swimming. At the close of the observation, I hope to find that there is no particular direction of swimming that the sea lions swim towards.

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Literature Review

The California sea lions are identified as the “eared seals” that are native to the West Coast of North America. The species are found in the sea, beaches, buoys as well as jetties. Research evidence points to the fact that the lions that are found in zoos happen to be intelligent as compared to those that are not trained. In this case, the one phenomenon that is directly linked to the lions is the fact that they can bark, just like ordinary dogs (NOAA FISHERIES). This is one of the key features that can be used to identify and distinguish sea lions from other organisms. Given the fact that sea lions are mammals by nature, they are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, which is a key law that guides how people interact with such organisms. This regulation serves to ensure that the mammals are protected and s safeguarded to the extent that they do not fall prey to the imminent challenges and concerns that are likely to be experienced like extinction. In this quest, human encroachment into the natural habitats of such animals has been linked to the greatest threats to the existence of such organisms.

As it stands, the NOAA Fisheries aids in the conservation of the California sea lion about the fact that it has set up collaborative stances with the other institutions in the land to create a framework that protects the species. In the efforts to come up with such stances to protect the environment through the preservation of the California sea lion, it is integral to highlight that the entities make use of innovation to come up with the key strategies to solve problems (Kastelein et al., 2000). The institutions are aware of the fact that it is not enough to protect the California sea lion from human encroachment, but there is also the need to have decent strategies that would be invoked when it comes to the protection of the organisms from distress. For instance, it is common for the California sea lion would get trapped in the nets because they are used to the marine environment, where such conditions are not manifest in any given way. Still, pollution is the one concern that the NOAA Fisheries serves to limit given the fact that it pauses negative effects on the survival of the California sea lion.

According to the research completed by the NOAA Fisheries, it is presently estimated that the average population size for the stock of California sea lions is 6.2 percent (NOAA FISHERIES). It is important to note that the timeline identifying this figure is the year 1983. With time, research findings conducted by some of the reputable research firms on the land suggest that the number of California sea lions has been reducing over time. It is for this reason that there is a need to come up with regulative frameworks that can be used to cut down some of the factors that threaten the survival of the California sea lion (Kastelein et al., 2000). It is anticipated the adoption of working models in this case will create a desirable stance and perspective where the animals will not risk falling prey to extinction

Appearance of the California Sea Lions

While the adult females as well as the juveniles have slender bodies that are tan in color, the males are large and have dark brown colors. On the other hand, the pups assume a dark brown color and, hence, resemble the adult male species. Still, the color of the pups is never as constant as they undergo the molting process where the dark color now melts the moment they reach 4 months to some shiny appearance. As they grow on from the 5 months, the pups would also assume a silver color. California sea lions are often characterized by broad frontal flippers that are long and have rather narrow snouts.

When it comes to adult males, it can be seen that they are characterized by pronounced forehead crests, which are crowned by tufts of blonde or lighter hair. In addition, the California sea lions happen to have visible ear flaps as well as three to five claws that are located on the hind flippers. When it comes to dieting, it must be noted that California sea lions often feed on the offshores of the dominant coastal areas in the land. In this case, they feed on a wide variety of organisms that are located on the shores (Elorriaga-Verplancken et al., 2016). They include the squid, the anchovies, the mackerel, the rockfish as well as the sardines. The animals also feed on the fish that is located on the commercial feeding gear. This is one of the major reasons why fishing is discouraged in the areas where the California sea lion lives, as they could serve as supplements to the foods accessed by the animals.

From a social viewpoint, California sea lions are extremely social on the land. At the time of breeding, the male species assume the vigilant roles of protecting and defending their territories from the other male species to the extent that their female partners cannot be accessed by the other males. On the other hand, the females’ role during breeding is the protect their young ones from harm and attacks (Elorriaga-Verplancken et al., 2016). The latter further assist their cubs to hunt and obtain food from the available living creatures. However, the California sea lion fears the sight of human beings, hence, they run into hiding the moment that they perceive people approaching them.

About the available literature, it is indicative to note that the California sea lion males bark just like normal dogs to associate and communicate with others. When it comes to the female species, it can be seen that they often make decent communication by the use of vocalization. In this context, the language is unique and understood by the male species, the cubs, and the other female California sea lions (Kastelein et al., 2000). The pups and females are characterized by a peculiar scent, which is used in the identification of their presence. The female can locate the pup even when the latter is in thousands of other pups by using the visualization strategy.

The one other significant trait of the California sea lion is rafting. In this case, the animal assumes a stance that would be interpreted that it is caught in some form of net while it is using the flippers to stay afloat on the water. This phenomenon leaves the organism afloat on the water while it is motionless. At this time, the observer can't see any buoy or net because the California sea lion is rafting.

Materials and Methods

For me to come up with a desirable research outcome, I sought to visit the Central Park Zoo on November 06, 2019, at 11:22 AM. The average temperature at my time of visit was 50 Degrees. In this quest, there was the need to sample a few California sea lions to observe as supported by the stance that it was rather impractical to make a decent review of all the animals in the zoo. For this reason, the sampling methods that were adopted included Ad libitum sampling and focal animal sampling. On the other hand, the behavior sampling recording rules were characterized by continuous recording, time sampling as well as periodic sampling stances.

There are several observations that I made while at the zoo. For instance, before feeders entered, a total of 144 “swims” were observed. On the other hand, the time when the sea lions jumped out of the water, was about 10 minutes into the video. This event was witnessed at 11:32 am. On the part of the feeders, I noted that they came in at 9 minutes and 30 seconds into the video respectively. The table below summarizes the swims in the clockwise and anticlockwise.

The mean of the behavior of the swims in the clockwise direction was

(90+91+90+89+88+93)/6

Mean =93

The mean of the behavior of the swims in the anticlockwise direction was

(34+31+30+39+88+93)/6

Figure 3 is an illustration of the frequencies of the observations on the animal. They include feeding, swimming, chattering, resting, and freezing respectively.

I also noted that while the male feeder pointed outside of the cave, the seal that was inside came out of the water to feed. I saw a feeder extending the hand out while the seal dipped its neck backward. Thereafter, I noticed that the zeal went back to the cave, but completed the same tricks in the interests of getting the feed.

Figure 4 shows the number of fish that was consumed by the sea lion at 5 min, 10 min, 12 min, 15 min, and 20 min respectively.

Limitations of the Study

While taking part in this research is one of the things that I have enjoyed doing in the recent past, it is still notable to point out that this particular research was limited by several aspects. First of all, the time for making the observations was limited such that I was not able to capture much of the behavior. Also, given the fact that the species that I observed were trained, it is possible that my observations were not accurate. As a remedy to the above concerns, the one approach that can be adopted is through conducting visitations in different zoos across the state as well as those in their natural habitats. Still, the time dedicated to such research endeavors ought to be sufficient.

As for the feeders and animal keepers, it is evident to point out that their role in the zoo is rather indispensable. It is not possible to do without them since they train, feed, and take decent care of the animals. Still, their mandates can be improved if they are provided with all the financial and working resources that they need. It is only possible for the observations on the animals to be completed if they are not distressed.

Conclusion

As seen in the research, it is evident that reinforcement is needed when it comes to the welfare of the California sea lions in the zoo. In this case, decent policies should be made such that the animals are protected well. When comparing the behaviors of California sea lions that are trained to those that are not, it is notable that the latter do not look for food themselves. Also, the female sea lions did not bother with their young ones like the case of those that exist in the natural environment.

About the above statistical analysis on the observations made on the California sea lions, it can be summed that the organism often swims towards the clockwise direction because the sampled species indicated 63% for this while only 37% indicated that they swim in a clockwise manner. Therefore, the outcomes of the research do not abide by the position held in the hypothesis that the organisms do not swim in any particular direction. In so doing, the research has been integral in filling the gaps manifest in society. As witnessed in the above deliberation, the observations made on the animal connect with what the literature says about it. For instance, the color of the mature male lions was dark, just as expressed in the literature. Therefore, the research outcomes conform to the conventional aspects of the subject.

References

1. Elorriaga-Verplancken, F. R., Sierra-Rodríguez, G. E., Rosales-Nanduca, H., Acevedo-Whitehouse, K., & Sandoval-Sierra, J. (2016). Impact of the 2015 El Niño-Southern Oscillation on the abundance and foraging habits of Guadalupe fur seals and California sea lions from the San Benito Archipelago, Mexico. PLoS One, 11(5), e0155034.
2. Kastelein, R. A., Schooneman, N. M., Vaughan, N., & Wiepkema, P. R. (2000). Food consumption and growth of California sea lions (zalophus californianus californianus). https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-2361(2000)19:23.0.CO;2-O
3. Masper, A., Gallo-Reynoso-Reynoso, J. P., Cisneros-Mata, M. A., & García-Hernández, J. (2019). Review of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) abundance, and population dynamics in the Gulf of California. Revista De Biología Tropical, 67(4), 833-849.
4. McClatchie, S., Field, J., Thompson, A. R., Gerrodette, T., Lowry, M., Fiedler, P. C., & Vetter, R. D. (2016). Food limitation of sea lion pups and the decline of forage off central and southern California. Royal Society Open Science, 3(3), 150628.
5. NOAA FISHERIES. History of California sea lions. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/california-sea-lion
6. Zoo Biology, 19(2), 143–159.