Exciting news from expedition leader and naturalist Dr Roger Kirkwood, who has just had a book published. Roger’s life passion has been Antarctica and he has visited the icy continent over 10 seasons with Aurora Expeditions.
Fur Seals and Sea Lions
By Roger Kirkwood, Simon Goldsworthy.
About the book
Outlines the comparative ecology and biology of the Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal and Australian sea lion.
Fur seals and sea lions are charismatic, large carnivores that engage us with both their skill and playful antics. Although all species in Australian waters were harvested to near extinction 200 years ago, fur seal populations are recovering and are now common in near-shore waters across southern Australia. Sea lions, however, are endangered. Their populations appear not to have recovered like fur seals and are declining at some locations. Fur seals and sea lions are important top level predators and play an important role in Australia’s temperate marine ecosystems. Key threats they currently face relate to human activities, particularly interactions with fisheries.
This book outlines the comparative evolutionary ecology, biology, life-history, behaviour, conservation status, threats, history of human interactions and latest research on the three species of otariids that live in the waters of southern Australia: the Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal and Australian sea lion. It also includes brief descriptions of Antarctic and Subantarctic seals that occupy the Antarctic pack-ice and remote Australian territories of Macquarie Island and Heard Island.
About the authors
Both Simon Goldsworthy and Roger Kirkwood are marine biologists with over 25 years’ experience, specialising in the ecology of marine mammals and seabirds. Simon Goldsworthy is a Principal Research Scientist with the South Australian Research and Development Institute, while Roger Kirkwood is also a Research Scientist at the Phillip Island Nature Parks, Victoria.
Fur Seals and Sea Lions is available now for $39.95 through CSIRO Publishing. ISBN:9780643096929
