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75-617: P. vitulina concolor ( DeKay , 1842) P. vitulina mellonae ( Doutt , 1942) P. vitulina richardii (Gray, 1864) P. vitulina stejnegeri ( J. A. Allen , 1902) P. vitulina vitulina ( Linnaeus , 1758) The harbor (or harbour ) seal ( Phoca vitulina ), also known as the common seal , is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere . The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of

150-659: A deep platform of volcanic rock . This, in turn, lies atop the eastern margin of the Pacific plate , a large tectonic plate which mostly consists of the oceanic crust underlying the Pacific Ocean but also incorporates the continental crust of California west of the San Andreas Fault . The volcanic rock underlying the islands was laid down in undersea eruptions between 19 and 15 million years ago. The Channel Islands platform may have been above sea level for

225-407: A foraging area. Males may fight over mates under water and on land. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups can weigh up to 16 kg (35 lb) and are able to swim and dive within hours of birth. They develop quickly on their mothers' fat-rich milk, and are weaned after four to six weeks. The global population of harbor seals is 350,000–500,000, but

300-560: A higher yield Terrestrial conservation efforts are being made to maintain the islands' endemic species. Feral livestock, including pigs, goats, and sheep, pose a threat to many of the species, including the San Clemente loggerhead shrike and Channel Islands spotted skunk . The National Park Service eradicated the feral pigs on Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands during the 1990s and on Santa Catalina Island in 2007. Introduced pathogens have devastated island species due to isolation from

375-906: A hundred miles upstream into fresh water in large rivers in search of migratory fish like shad and likely salmon . Resting sites may be both rugged, rocky coasts, such as those of the Hebrides or the shorelines of New England , or sandy beaches, like the ones that flank Normandy in Northern France or the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Harbor seals frequently congregate in harbors, bays, sandy intertidal zones, and estuaries in pursuit of prey fish such as salmon , menhaden , anchovy , sea bass , herring , mackerel , cod , whiting and flatfish , and occasionally shrimp , crabs , mollusks , and squid . Atlantic subspecies of either Europe or North America also exploit deeper-dwelling fish of

450-469: A land of plenty and the water to be livable. Within sight of the New York skyline, known colonies of harbor seals are found on Hoffman and Swinburne Islands as well as portions of Red Hook and Staten Island , readily hauling out every from October until very early May. Known favorite foods of the seal are returning in grand numbers to New York Harbor as well as nearby New Jersey, from Raritan Bay all

525-402: A single landmass known as Santa Rosae . The archipelago extends for 160 miles (257 km) between San Miguel Island in the north and San Clemente Island in the south. Together, the islands’ land area totals 221,331 acres (89,569 ha), or about 346 square miles (900 km ). Five of the islands ( San Miguel , Santa Rosa , Santa Cruz , Anacapa , and Santa Barbara ) were made into

600-532: A time after its creation. Still, it was quickly eroded below the water line and underwent sediment accumulation for the next 10-14 million years. During the same period, the ongoing collision of the Pacific plate and the adjacent North American plate caused the Channel Islands platform and adjacent mainland areas to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise. This resulted in the present east-west orientation of

675-660: A year, mostly during the summer. Visitors can travel to the islands by boat or airplane. Camping grounds are available in the Channel Islands National Park in Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands. Attractions include whale watching, hikes, snorkeling, kayaking and camping. Natural seepage of oil occurs at several places in the Santa Barbara Channel. Tar balls or pieces of tar in small numbers are found in

750-482: Is dead center of its West Atlantic range, says that "New York is like their Miami resort." This refers to the habit of young seals leaving Cape Cod and even some Arctic waters to inhabit the harbor in winter. In 2018 the New York Post reported that the harbor is now "cleaner than it has been in 110 years," and since the first decade of the 21st century, the harbor seal has found the old turf of its ancestors to be

825-583: Is no pinna (ear flap). An ear canal may be visible behind the eye. Including the head and flippers, they may reach an adult length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and a weight of 55 to 168 kg (120 to 370 lb). Females are generally smaller than males. There are an estimated 350,000–500,000 harbor seals worldwide. While the population is not threatened as a whole, the Greenland , Hokkaidō and Baltic Sea populations are exceptions. Local populations have been reduced or eliminated through disease (especially

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900-450: Is not known, but thought to be polygamous . Females give birth once per year, with a gestation period around nine months. Females have a mean age at sexual maturity of 3.72 years and a mean age at first parturition of 4.64. Both courtship and mating occur under water. Researchers have found males gather under water, turn on their backs, put their heads together, and vocalize to attract females ready for breeding. Pregnancy rate of females

975-579: Is unknown), lived alone on San Nicolas Island from 1835 until her removal from the island in 1853, when men discovered her inside a hut made of whalebones and brush. Juana Maria's fondness for green corn, vegetables, and fresh fruit caused severe attacks of dysentery. In her weakness, she fell from Nidever's porch and injured her spine. On Oct. 18, 1853, only seven weeks after arriving on the mainland, she died of dysentery in Garey, California, at age 43. Before she died, Father Sanchez baptized and christened her with

1050-590: Is visible today as marine terraces along the islands' slopes. Undersea exploration has found evidence of lower shorelines below today's sea level. Separated from the California mainland throughout recent geological history, the Channel Islands provide the earliest evidence for human seafaring in the Americas. The northern Channel Islands are now known to have been settled by maritime Paleo-Indian peoples at least 13,000 years ago. The Arlington Springs Man

1125-677: The Australian blue gum tree , olive tree, sweet fennel , and Harding grass , threaten native species through competition for light, nutrients, and water. The Australian blue gum, for example, releases toxins in its leaf litter which prevents other species of plants from growing in the soil surrounding it. The blue gum, as well as other species including the Harding grass, are much more flammable and better adapted to wildfires than native species. Earthworms , thought to have come from mainland topsoil imported for road construction, are altering

1200-869: The Channel Islands National Park in 1980. The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompasses the waters six nautical miles (11 kilometers; 6.9 miles) off these islands. Santa Catalina Island is the only one of the eight islands with significant permanent civilian settlements—the resort city of Avalon and the unincorporated community of Two Harbors . University of Southern California also houses its USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies marine lab in Two Harbors. The Channel Islands National Park mainland visitor center in Ventura Harbor received 342,000 visitors in 2014. The islands attract around 70,000 tourists

1275-578: The Chumash known as tomol and by the Tongva as te'aats , appeared on the islands around 1,500 BP (500 AD). The boat had become a critical part of Chumash and Tongva culture by 650 AD. The tomol boats were highly sophisticated boats that were able to transport multiple families across the islands which were valuable to the culture of the Chumash people. The boats were made from tule which made

1350-881: The Southern California Bight in the Pacific Ocean , off the coast of California. They define the Santa Barbara Channel between the islands and the California mainland. The four Northern Channel Islands are part of the Transverse Ranges geologic province , and the four Southern Channel Islands are part of the Peninsular Ranges province. Five of the islands are within the Channel Islands National Park . The waters surrounding these islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary . The Nature Conservancy

1425-637: The Torrey pine subspecies Pinus torreyana var. insularis , which is endemic to the island. Torrey pines are the United States' rarest pine species. The islands also house many rare and endangered species of plants, including the island barberry , the island rushrose , and the Santa Cruz Island lace pod . Giant kelp forests surround the islands and act as a source of nutrition and protection for other animals. Invasive species , such as

1500-510: The kelp forest , harbor seals enhance species diversity and productivity. They are preyed upon by killer whales (orcas) and white sharks . Haul out sites in California include urban beaches and from time to time they can be seen having a nap on the beach in all of San Francisco Bay, which would include the conurbation of Richmond , Oakland , and San Francisco , the Greater Los Angeles area, which would include Santa Barbara ,

1575-544: The phocine distemper virus ) and conflict with humans , both unintentionally and intentionally. Killing seals perceived to threaten fisheries is legal in Norway , and Canada , but commercial hunting is illegal. Seals are also taken in subsistence hunting and accidentally as bycatch (mainly in bottomset nets). Along the Norwegian coast, bycatch accounted for 48% of pup mortality. Killing or taking seals has been illegal in

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1650-422: The western gulls , bald eagles , pigeon guillemots , and Scripps's murrelets use the islands as well for shelter and breeding grounds. The endemic island fox is California's smallest natural canine and has rebounded from its near extinction in the late 1990s. Several endemic reptile and amphibian species including the island fence lizard , island night lizard , and Channel Islands slender salamander live on

1725-497: The Channel Islands became locally extinct after widespread use of pesticides such as DDT . The birds ingest contaminated fish and seabirds which poisons the adults and weakens their eggs. Golden eagles , which are natural competitors of other birds of prey , do not primarily feed on these animals and were able to colonize the islands in the early 1990s. In the early 2000s, golden eagles were live trapped and relocated. In 2002 and 2006 breeding pairs of bald eagles were reintroduced to

1800-519: The Dutch word robben, meaning " seals ". On the border between Canada and the US is an island known as Machias Seal Island , a place where today the harbor seal will occasionally visit but is now a sanctuary for puffins. Over the course of hundreds of years, however, the seal was wiped out steadily by being shot on sight by fishermen and by massive pollution. The evidence for this is found in documents all along

1875-649: The MPA network implemented caused fish species to increase in biomass in terms of both size, numbers, and weight per area. This increase in fish population was seen both in the MPA and as spillover in the regions outside of these thirteen zones. Given the most recent General Management Plan, passed in April 2015, this MPA will continue to be monitored and protected for the next twenty to forty years in hopes of continuing its successful pattern of restoring biodiversity. Due to Black Abalone (Haliotis Cracherodii) being native species to

1950-658: The MPA, the Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council is in charge of state waters including hiring employees and park workers. The federal waters remain under the control and protection of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The California Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary has been moderately successful as shown in a ten-year study done by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO). From years 2003–2013,

2025-673: The San Clemente sage sparrow. Two breeds of livestock, the Santa Cruz sheep and the San Clemente Island goat originate from here. Many species of large marine mammals, including pacific gray whales , blue whales , humpback whales , and California sea lions breed or feed close to the Channel Islands. Current occurrences of the critically endangered North Pacific right whales and historically abundant Steller's sea lions in these areas are unknown. Seabirds, including

2100-717: The Spanish name Juana Maria. She was buried in an unmarked grave on the Nidever family plot at the Santa Barbara Mission cemetery. Aleut hunters visited the islands to hunt otters in the early 1800s. The Aleuts purportedly clashed with the native Chumash, killing many over trading disputes. Aleut interactions with the natives were detailed in Scott O'Dell 's novel Island of the Blue Dolphins which described

2175-567: The U.S. formally closed the issue. In 1972, in "a bit of political theater", twenty-six Brown Berets sailed to Catalina Island on tourist boats, set up a small encampment near the town of Avalon, put up a Mexican flag, and claimed the island on behalf of all Chicanos, citing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo . Twenty-four days later, sheriff's deputies took everyone back to the mainland. The United States Navy controls San Nicolas Island and San Clemente Island , and has installations elsewhere in

2250-783: The United Kingdom since 1 March 2021. Seals in the United Kingdom are protected by the 1970 Conservation of Seals Act , which prohibits most forms of killing. In the United States , the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 prohibits the killing of any marine mammals , and most local ordinances, as well as NOAA , instruct citizens to leave them alone unless serious danger to the seal exists. The California population of subspecies P. v. richardii amounted to about 25,000 individuals as of 1984. Pacific harbor seals or California harbor seals are found along

2325-418: The United States, he married Janet Eckford, a daughter of Henry Eckford , a ship builder. He then traveled with his father-in-law to Turkey as a ship's physician, and published a book, Sketches of Turkey in 1831 and 1832, about these travels. Although well received as an entertaining travelogue , his book has been criticized as being very anti-Hellenic as well as sometimes naive about Turkish customs. He

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2400-797: The age and sex of the animal, with yearlings molting first and adult males last. A female mates again immediately following the weaning of her pup. Harbor seals are sometimes reluctant to haul out in the presence of humans, so shoreline development and access must be carefully studied, and if necessary managed, in known locations of seal haul out. In comparison to many pinniped species, and in contrast to otariid pinnipeds, harbor seals are generally regarded to be more vocally reticent. However, they do utilize non-harmonic vocalizations to maintain breeding territories and to attract mates during specified times of year, and also during mother and pup interactions. Annual survival rates were calculated at 0.91 for adult males, and 0.902 for adult females. Maximum age for females

2475-453: The area, had enormous tumors in their livers by the 1980s and the harbor seal was long gone, shot to oblivion. As of 2020, however, the seals have returned. They never were extirpated from Canada and certain pockets of the Maine coast, and thus an important mother population was created from whence the species could reclaim the home of their ancestors. Currently, they are sighted as far south as

2550-872: The barrier islands of North Carolina on a regular basis, with Massachusetts being the southernmost point of known pupping areas along the Atlantic Coast. Harbor seals move south from eastern Canadian waters to breed along the coast of Maine , Cape Cod , and the South Shore in Massachusetts in May and June, and return northward in fall. Others will head south from these areas to "vacation" in warmer waters, particularly young seals unable to compete with adults for food and territory; they do not return north until spring. One park ranger in New York City, which

2625-405: The boats very buoyant and unsinkable. The Nicoleño was a Uto-Aztecan Native American living on San Nicolas Island in California. The population was "left devastated by a massacre in 1811 by sea otter hunters". The group's last surviving member was named Juana Maria, born before 1811 and died in 1853. Juana Maria , better known to history as the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island" (her native name

2700-444: The chain. During World War II all of southern California's Channel Islands were put under military control, including the civilian-populated Santa Catalina where tourism was halted and established residents needed permits to travel to and from the mainland. San Miguel Island was used as a bombing range and Santa Barbara Island as an early warning outpost under the presumed threat of a Japanese attack on California. San Clemente Island

2775-623: The city of Los Angeles itself, and Long Beach , and all of San Diego Bay , most famously beaches near La Jolla . Considerable scientific inquiry has been carried out by the Marine Mammal Center and other research organizations beginning in the 1980s regarding the incidence and transmission of diseases in harbor seals in the wild, including analysis of phocine herpesvirus . In San Francisco Bay , some harbor seals are fully or partially reddish in color, possibly caused by an accumulation of trace elements such as iron or selenium in

2850-414: The coast of New England which put a bounty on the head of every seal shot, as well as the accounts of harbormasters. New York City, when it was founded in the 1640s, was founded on top of an enormous estuary teeming with life that included the harbor seal. Oil in the 1800s started the process of pollution that was later compounded by even more toxic 20th century chemicals that included PCB 's and dioxin . By

2925-610: The entire Pacific Coast shoreline of the state. They prefer to remain relatively close to shore in subtidal and intertidal zones, and have not been seen beyond the Channel Islands as a pelagic form; moreover, they often venture into bays and estuaries and even swim up coastal rivers. They feed in shallow littoral waters on herring , flounder , hake , anchovy , codfish , and sculpin . Breeding occurs in California from March to May, with pupping between April and May, depending on local populations. As top-level feeders in

3000-559: The freshwater subspecies Ungava seal in Northern Quebec is endangered. Once a common practice, sealing is now illegal in many nations within the animal's range. Individual harbor seals possess a unique pattern of spots, either dark on a light background or light on a dark. They vary in colour from brownish black to tan or grey; underparts are generally lighter. The body and flippers are short, heads are rounded. Nostrils appear distinctively V-shaped. As with other true seals, there

3075-588: The genus Ammodytes as a food source and Pacific subspecies have been recorded occasionally consuming fish of the genus Oncorhynchus . Although primarily coastal, dives of over 500 m have been recorded. Harbor seals have been recorded to attack, kill and eat several kinds of ducks. Harbor seals are solitary, but are gregarious when hauled out and during the breeding season, though they do not form groups as large as some other seals. When not actively feeding, they haul to rest. They tend to be coastal, not venturing more than 20 km offshore. The mating system

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3150-421: The indigenous peoples living on the island. The Chumash and Tongva were removed from the islands in the early 19th century and taken to Spanish missions and pueblos on the adjacent mainland. The Channel Islands were used primarily for ranching and fishing for a century. Several of the islands were used by whalers in the 1930s to hunt for sperm whales. This had significant impacts on island ecosystems, including

3225-572: The island ecosystems has made significant progress. An example of conservation progress has been the bald eagle , which was threatened due to DDT contamination but whose populations are now recovering. With the help of scientists from the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies , the Catalina Island Fox has also recovered from a low of 100 individual foxes to over 1,500 foxes in 2018. Occasional discussion on

3300-589: The islands' ridges. About 5 million years ago , the Channel Islands and the onshore east-west ranges, such as the Santa Monica Mountains , were uplifted as a result of tectonic forces from the collision of the northward-moving Baja California peninsula--attached to the Pacific plate--with the North American plate. Compression of the rocks lifted the islands above sea level in a process of folding and faulting that continues today. Since

3375-673: The islands, San Clemente Island and San Nicolas Island , are used by the US Navy as training grounds, weapons test sites, and strategic defensive locations. The eight islands are split among the jurisdictions of three California counties : Santa Barbara County (four), Ventura County (two), and Los Angeles County (two). The islands are divided into the Northern Channel Islands and the Southern Channel Islands. The four northern Islands used to be

3450-492: The islands. During the Late Pleistocene a dwarf mammoth species, the pygmy mammoth inhabited the northern Channel Islands, before becoming extinct around 13,000 years ago, around the time of human arrival to the Channel Islands. The Channel Islands also had a huge population of shellfish during this time that every part of utilized. The abalone was so important the native peoples started to farm abalone based to get

3525-444: The kelp and on the beaches. Native Americans used naturally occurring tar, bitumen , for various purposes, including roofing, waterproofing, paving, and some ceremonial purposes. The Channel Islands at low elevations are virtually frost -free and constitute one of the few such areas in the 48 contiguous US states . It snows only rarely on higher mountain peaks. The Channel Islands consist mainly of sedimentary rock , which lies on

3600-493: The late Pleistocene to historic times. The Anacapa Island Archeological District is a 700-acre (280 ha) historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1979. Historically, the northern islands were occupied by the island Chumash , while the southern islands were occupied by the Tongva . The earliest known Chumash village site is on Santa Rosa Island. It belongs to

3675-449: The local extinction of sea otters, bald eagles, and other species. For example, the decline in the local otter population led to the population growth of their prey, the black abalone . As a result, the Channel Islands became an essential stop in the 1850s for Chinese-American fishermen who harvested the abalone and exported them to Hong Kong. As most of the Channel Islands are managed by federal agencies or conservation groups, restoring

3750-642: The mainland that they could not cultivate on the island. Around 2,500 BP (500 BC), there was a significant evolution in technology and increasing reliance on fishing. The circular shell fishhooks were increasingly used. Mortars and pestles were manufactured on San Miguel Island for trade with the mainland. The middens in San Miguel Island showed some of the earliest known fishing hooks and specialized tools for processing seafood. Archaeologists on site CA-SMI-608 found various tools made from chipped stone, bone tools, and beads. A new type of boat created by

3825-404: The mainland. In 1998, an outbreak of canine distemper swept through Santa Catalina Island severely reducing the island skunk and fox populations. Rabies and distemper vaccination programs were initiated to protect the island's wildlife. Canine distemper is thought to have been brought to the islands on a stowaway raccoon or a domestic dog. In the 1950s, bald eagles and peregrine falcons on

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3900-399: The mother's rich, fatty milk and grow rapidly; born weighing up to 16 kilograms, the pups may double their weight by the time of weaning . Harbor seals must spend a great deal of time on shore when molting , which occurs shortly after breeding. This onshore time is important to the life cycle, and can be disturbed when substantial human presence occurs. The timing of onset of molt depends on

3975-601: The northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Harbor seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and a mass of up to 168 kg (370 lb). Blubber under the seal's skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand, and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near

4050-487: The northern islands. Later in 2006, the introduced adult eagles hatched chicks on the islands for the first time since their extinction. The Channel Islands National Park established a bald eagle webcam on their website in 2007. The California Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary consists of thirteen Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the five islands of the Channel Islands National Park. Combined, these smaller thirteen zones are 124,676 acres (50,455 ha) in size. Eleven of

4125-708: The ocean, or a change in the hair follicles. Although some of the largest harbor seal pupping areas are found in California, they are also found north along the Pacific Coast in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Large populations move with the season south along the west coast of Canada and may winter on the islands in Washington and Oregon. Pupping is known to occur in both Washington and Oregon as of 2020. People are advised to stay at least 50m away from harbor seals that have hauled out on land, especially

4200-563: The period around 7,500 BP. The Chumash people lived in large villages or towns with up to 1,000 residents. Chumash villages typically contained houses and sweat lodges and occasionally had menstrual houses, cemeteries, sacred spaces, and structures for food storage and preparation. The Chumash people were leaders in the creation of their villages, they had a sociopolitical organization that allowed their villages to be so well preserved and created great social space and village community that lasted even into an excavation of their villages. Soon after,

4275-407: The population density on the islands began to rise. A significant increase in fish and marine mammal exploitation has been observed. The Tongva people used many marine artifacts in their daily lives, such as shells. They used shells to create beads, and while this was not part of their dietary practices, it was a vital part of their economy. They used these shell beads to trade to obtain more food from

4350-560: The pups, as mothers will abandon them when there is excessive human activity nearby. Historically, the range of the harbor seal extended from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and Greenland to the sandy beaches of North Carolina, a distance of well over a thousand miles (greater than 1600 km) Evidence of their presence in these areas is consistent with both the fossil record as well as a few landmarks named for them during colonization: Robbin's Reef, off of Bayonne, New Jersey, gets its name from

4425-404: The richest marine ecosystems of the world. Many unique species of plants and animals are endemic to the Channel Islands, including fauna such as the Channel Islands spotted skunk , ashy storm-petrel , and flora including a unique subspecies of Torrey pine . Flora on the Channel Islands include a unique subspecies of pine, oak, and the island tree mallow . Santa Rosa Island holds two groves of

4500-750: The rough drafts of the drawings. Hill's drawings of birds for De Kay's Zoology of New York were significant in that they represented the first time hand-colored lithographs were used to illustrate a state bird book. De Kay collected the first specimen of a species of small brown snake on Long Island , which was named for him as Storeria dekayi ( Holbrook , 1836). De Kay died at Oyster Bay in 1851. Historical species named after him include Dipleura dekayi , Eurypterus dekayi , Eutrephoceras dekayi , Mosasaurus dekayi , and Trimerus dekayi . Channel Islands of California The Channel Islands ( Spanish : islas del Canal, Archipiélago del Norte ) are an eight-island archipelago located within

4575-541: The status of the islands has arisen because they (and the Farallon Islands ) were not explicitly mentioned in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , which ceded northern Mexico to the United States. Citing these perceived legal ambiguities, settlers created unrecognized Micronations in at least two cases. A 1944 review by the Mexican government concluded that it had no claim to them, and a 1978 maritime treaty with

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4650-583: The study of natural history . On the outbreak of cholera in New York City , De Kay hastened to give his services to the afflicted, although the practice of his profession was repugnant to him. He became involved with the Geological Survey of New York, initiated in 1835. As a result, from 1842 to 1844 he published the multi-volume Zoology of New York, or The New-York Fauna covering: mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and fish. This work

4725-542: The time of the 1972 Clean Water Act , New York Harbor was almost dead-almost no living thing could survive in it. Approximately 300 miles to the north, Boston Harbor was equally polluted. Raw sewage had been dumped in the harbor since the late 1800s and the stench of fecal matter in the Charles River was overpowering, as evidenced by the song " Dirty Water " by the Standells , written in 1966. Flatfish, abundant in

4800-475: The unique ecosystem and microbial communities on San Clemente Island, threatening biodiversity . In this formerly earthworm-free region, they change the distribution of plants and vegetation, making it possible for non-native plants to invade. The Channel Islands and the waters surrounding hold many endemic species of animals, including fauna such as the Channel Islands spotted skunk, island scrub jay , ashy storm-petrel , San Clemente loggerhead shrike , and

4875-407: The uplift began, the extent of the islands has varied with sea levels. During ice ages , when the water line was hundreds of feet lower than today, more land was exposed, and several islands were effectively joined into a single large island. Conversely, less of the land was exposed when sea levels were higher, and shorelines formed at higher levels. Evidence for ancient shorelines at higher sea levels

4950-609: The way down the entire Jersey Shore , with schools of mossbunker regularly attracting harbor seals, their cousins the grey seals, dolphins and, most recently, whales. Both the northern and southern shores of Long Island have a reliable population of harbor seals as well as greys, where they will take sand lance as well as some species of crab as part of their diet. The five proposed subspecies of Phoca vitulina are: Harbor seals prefer to frequent familiar resting sites. They may spend several days at sea and travel up to 50 km in search of feeding grounds, and will also swim more than

5025-504: The zones are no-take and harvest areas and the remaining two marine conservation areas allow limited take of lobster and pelagic fish. Although there is a no-take policy, tourists are allowed to visit and observe the beautiful biodiversity. There are several restrictions that limit the type and weight of gear tourists are allowed to bring including transportation–only park/private boats or planes are permitted to enter, fuel transportation, etc. In order to enforce these restrictions and preserve

5100-585: Was 36 and for males 31 years. James Ellsworth De Kay James De Kay was born in Lisbon , Portugal, in 1792. When he was two years old, his family moved to New York ; both his parents died while he was still quite young. He attended Yale from 1807 to 1812, but was expelled before completing his degree when he threatened a college tutor with a club. Later, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh , receiving his MD in 1819. After his return to

5175-556: Was 92% from age 3 to age 36, with lowered reproductive success after the age of 25 years. Birthing of pups occurs annually on shore. The timing of the pupping season varies with location, occurring in February for populations in lower latitudes, and as late as July in the subarctic zone. The mothers are the sole providers of care, with lactation lasting 24 days. The single pups are born well developed, capable of swimming and diving within hours. Suckling for three to four weeks, pups feed on

5250-455: Was added, and in 1956, a GPS-3 search radar was installed. A new MPS-14 long-range height-finder radar was installed in 1958. The base was shut down in March 1963, when the 669th was moved to Vandenberg AFB near Lompoc, California . The islands still house US Navy SEALs training facilities, including Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island . The Channel Islands form part of one of

5325-485: Was discovered in 1960 at Arlington Springs on Santa Rosa Island. The remains were dated to 13,000 years BP . The Tuqan Man was discovered on San Miguel Island in 2005. His remains were exposed by beach erosion and were preserved by University of Oregon archeologists. His age was determined to be about 10,000 years. Archeological sites on the island provide a unique and invaluable record of human interaction with Channel Island marine and terrestrial ecosystems from

5400-619: Was entrusted by Eckford with negotiations with Brazil and other South American powers, relative to the ships of war that had been ordered by the latter. In 1830, he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an honorary academician. In 1833 his brother, George Coleman De Kay , married the only daughter of the poet Joseph Rodman Drake , and De Kay became familiar with Drake, Fitz-Greene Halleck , William Cullen Bryant , and other men of literature and science. De Kay returned to Oyster Bay, New York , giving up medicine for

5475-470: Was illustrated by the British born American painter John William Hill . Hill and De Kay spent much time in the field. By the end of April 1839, they had provided full descriptions and drawings for 700 of the nearly 2,300 animals they estimated to exist in New York, and begun rough descriptions of many more. In order to best represent the animals, Hill and De Kay early on decided to use a camera lucida for

5550-636: Was instrumental in establishing the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Chumash Native Americans, and later the Tongva , lived on the islands from around 13,000 to 7000 years ago until they were displaced by the Spaniards in the 1800s, who used the islands for fishing and agriculture. The Channel Islands and the surrounding waters house a diverse ecosystem with many endemic species and subspecies. The islands harbor 150 unique species of plants. Two of

5625-625: Was used to train the Navy's first amphibious force to prepare for Pacific combat against the Japanese in World War II. San Nicolas Island has been used since 1957 as a launch pad for research rockets. Santa Rosa Island was used in 1952 as a base for the USAF 669th AC&W Squadron and they operated two Distant Early Warning FPS-10 radars from the hilltops there. In 1955 another FPS-3 search radar

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