Viral metagenomic survey of Caspian seals.

Introduction: Viral diseases of pinnipeds cause substantial mortality and morbidity and can influence population demography. Viral metagenomic studies can therefore play an important role in pinniped health assessments and disease surveillance relevant to both individual species and in a "One Health" context. Methods: This study used a metagenomic approach with high throughput sequencing to make the first assessment of viral diversity in Caspian seals (Pusa caspica), the only marine mammal species endemic to the Caspian Sea. Results: Sequencing libraries from 35 seals sampled 2009-2020 were analysed, finding sequences from the viral families Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Cruciviridae, Anelloviridae, Smacoviridae, and Orthomyxoviridae, with additional detection of Adenoviridae via PCR. The similarity of viral contigs from Caspian seal to sequences recovered from other pinnipeds ranged from 63.74% (San Miguel sea lion calicivirus) to 78.79% (Seal anellovirus 4). Discussion: Some findings represent novel viral species, but overall, the viral repertoire of Caspian seals is similar to available viromes from other pinnipeds. Among the sequences recovered were partial contigs for influenza B, representing only the second such molecular identification in marine mammals. This work provides a foundation for further studies of viral communities in Caspian seals, the diversity of viromes in pinnipeds more generally, and contributes data relevant for disease risk assessments in marine mammals.

Spring haul-out behavior of seals in the Bering and Chukchi Seas: implications for abundance estimation.

Ice-associated seals rely on sea ice for a variety of activities, including pupping, breeding, molting, and resting. In the Arctic, many of these activities occur in spring (April through June) as sea ice begins to melt and retreat northward. Rapid acceleration of climate change in Arctic ecosystems is therefore of concern as the quantity and quality of suitable habitat is forecast to decrease. Robust estimates of seal population abundance are needed to properly monitor the impacts of these changes over time. Aerial surveys of seals on ice are an efficient method for counting seals but must be paired with estimates of the proportion of seals out of the water to derive population abundance. In this paper, we use hourly percent-dry data from satellite-linked bio-loggers deployed between 2005 and 2021 to quantify the proportion of seals hauled out on ice. This information is needed to accurately estimate abundance from aerial survey counts of ice-associated seals (i.e., to correct for the proportion of animals that are in the water, and so are not counted, while surveys are conducted). In addition to providing essential data for survey 'availability' calculations, our analysis also provides insights into the seasonal timing and environmental factors affecting haul-out behavior by ice-associated seals. We specifically focused on bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), and spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Because ringed seals (Phoca (pusa) hispida) can be out of the water but hidden from view in snow lairs analysis of their 'availability' to surveys requires special consideration; therefore, they were not included in this analysis. Using generalized linear mixed pseudo-models to properly account for temporal autocorrelation, we fit models with covariates of interest (e.g., day-of-year, solar hour, age and sex class, wind speed, barometric pressure, temperature, precipitation) to examine their ability to explain variation in haul-out probability. We found evidence for strong diel and within-season patterns in haul-out behavior, as well as strong weather effects (particularly wind and temperature). In general, seals were more likely to haul out on ice in the middle of the day and when wind speed was low and temperatures were higher. Haul-out probability increased through March and April, peaking in May and early June before declining again. The timing and frequency of haul-out events also varied based on species and age-sex class. For ribbon and spotted seals, models with year effects were highly supported, indicating that the timing and magnitude of haul-out behavior varied among years. However, we did not find broad evidence that haul-out timing was linked to annual sea-ice extent. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of accounting for seasonal and temporal variation in haul-out behavior, as well as associated environmental covariates, when interpreting the number of seals counted in aerial surveys.

Describing the musculature of mystacial pads in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) using diceCT.

Pinnipeds have long, sensitive, moveable mystacial vibrissae. In other mammals, intrinsic muscles contribute to protracting the vibrissae. However, the mystacial muscles of pinnipeds have not yet been systematically described. Using traditional histological methods provides us with two-dimensional muscle images, but having the ability to visualise these structures in three dimensions would allow for a more comprehensive understanding of pinniped vibrissal anatomy, especially given the challenges posed by their large and extremely curved mystacial pad. We predicted that harbour seals would have large, regular intrinsic muscles due to their well-organised, moveable vibrissae. We adopted diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced computer tomography (diceCT) to describe, for the first time, the three-dimensional architecture of the mystacial vibrissal muscles found in harbour seals. Our observations show that their vibrissae are organised into grids within the mystacial pad. We identified both sling-shaped and oblique intrinsic muscles that connect one vibrissae to the next in the same row. We also identified extrinsic muscles, including the m. nasolabialis, m. maxillolabialis, m. levator nasolabialis and m. orbicularis oris. Contrary to our prediction, the intrinsic muscles were not very large, although they were regularly distributed throughout the pad. Rather, the extrinsic muscles, particularly the m. nasolabialis and m. maxillolabialis were large, deep and well-defined, running throughout the length of the mystacial pad. Therefore, we suggest that these extrinsic muscles, the m. nasolabialis and m. maxillolabialis, are responsible for driving vibrissal protraction underwater. These findings demonstrate the importance of three-dimensional visualisation techniques in advancing our understanding of mystacial anatomy and function in pinnipeds.

Multi-scale modeling and mechanical performance analysis of finger seals with plain woven C/C composite.

The application of carbon fibers reinforced carbon matrix (C/C) composite can solve the local wear of metallic finger seals effectively. However, the performance of C/C composite finger seal is complex and variable, which further decreases the sealing performance and life. Therefore, a method of multi-scale modeling and mechanical performance analysis for plain woven C/C composite finger seals was conducted. The circumferential finger beams of C/C composite were modeled by multi-scale structural analysis and weaving simulation. The radial static and dynamic stiffness characteristics of finger beams were investigated. The results showed that the radial static stiffness of the finger beam with three layers was about 3 times that with single layer. The radial stiffness of circumferential finger beams presented a periodic distribution pattern with a period of 90°. The radial dynamic stiffness of C/C composite finger beams increased with the excitation displacement amplitude and rotor speed. But the magnitude and fluctuation degree of dynamic stiffness were greater than those of static stiffness. A large difference in radial stiffness will lead to local wear and hysteretic leakage. This study lays a foundation for the analysis and optimization of the hysteresis and wear characteristics of C/C composite finger seals.

Multi-objective optimization of a triple-eccentric butterfly valve considering structural safety and sealing performance.

The structural safety and sealing performance of a triple-eccentric butterfly valve are crucial technical indicators that influence its reliability and service life. In this study, a new multi-objective optimization strategy is proposed to realize a lightweight design of valve trims, reduce the maximum equivalent stress, and reasonably distribute the sealing-specific pressure. A two-stage optimization scheme is designed by combining topology optimization (TO) and response surface methodology optimization (RSM). The topology optimization is employed to allocate the material distribution of the valve trims and provide the parameters for the response surface optimization, while the response surface methodology optimization conducts a further revision and optimization of the structural parameters of the valve trims. The results of the simulation experiments indicate that the maximum equivalent stress of the lightweight designed valve trims is reduced from 290.85 MPa to 99.88 MPa, and the maximum sealing-specific pressure of the sealing surface is reduced from 197.78 MPa to 77.83 MPa. Additionally, a novel approach is presented for assessing the sealing performance using the clearance of the fitting surface. This method can intuitively evaluate the state of metal sealing and guide the design of the fitting tolerance by analyzing the sensitivity of the dimensional deviation to the sealing-specific pressure. The findings demonstrate that the optimized valve exhibits good structural safety and sealing performance.

Length matters: Effects of fishing gear and fishing behavior on the catch efficiency of demersal seines.

Raiding seals pose a big problem to gillnet fishers in areas with high seal abundances. As moving to active gears could be a potential solution for that problem, one gear of particular interest in areas with relatively flat sea bed structure is the so-called "MiniSeine" - a demersal seine that is reduced in size so it can be operated from small vessels. Besides its ability to catch most of the species targeted by gillnet fishers, it offers various advantages compared to other active gears. To reduce the gear in size to fit on a small vessel, the present study assessed how seine rope length (4 coils vs 8 coils), seine rope diameter (18 mm vs. 22 mm) and seine net configurations of different sizes and shapes (three different designs) affect the catch efficiency and the ratio of fish below minimum conservation reference size (MCRS). In general, shorter seine ropes (4 coils) resulted in significantly lower catches than longer ones (8 coils), except for the smallest seine configuration. Larger seine net configurations and longer seine ropes caught generally less fish below MCRS, both up to around 10 %. The seine rope diameter did not affect catches significantly. As potential "adjusting screw" to counteract lower catches due to shorter seine ropes, the effect of different layout patterns of the seine ropes on the catch efficiency was assessed. Laying out the second seine rope perpendicular to the first one can increase the fishing area to more than three times while CPUE showed a tendency to be increased compared to the standard layout pattern. Besides its importance for a successful development of the MiniSeine, these findings are of equal interest for the large-scale demersal seine fishery.

A novel bailout technique using myocardial biopsy forceps to grasp a dislodged angio-seal collagen with footplate.

BACKGROUND: Hemostatic devices are now frequently used in femoral artery punctures, and the Angio-Seal (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) is one of the most commonly used devices for closure of the femoral artery because it provides rapid hemostasis. Although device failure rarely occurs, if the collagen falls into the femoral artery, it may lead to severe limb ischemia. Herein, we describe a case of a novel endovascular technique for the treatment of Angio-Seal arterial closure device failure. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient in Case 1 was a 75-year-old man with severe left limb claudication. We used a contralateral antegrade approach and used the Angio-Seal for hemostasis. However, the Angio-Seal collagen and footplate dropped and stopped at the bifurcation of the superficial femoral artery and deep femoral artery. The collagen with the footplate was caught with myocardial biotome forceps (MBF) and pulled into the external iliac artery (EIA). The distal common femoral artery (CFA) was punctured, and we delivered a 10.0- × 80-mm stent (SMART®; Cordis, USA) to the EIA from the ipsilateral sheath. The stent was deployed at the EIA and crushed the collagen. The patient in Case 2 was an 88-year-old man with rest pain in the right limb. The right CFA was punctured using an ipsilateral approach and the Angio-Seal was used for hemostasis. The Angio-Seal collagen with the footplate dropped into the bifurcation of the deep femoral artery. The collagen and footplate were caught with MBF and pulled up to the EIA. The right CFA was punctured and a 10.0- × 60-mm stent (SMART®; Cordis) was delivered from the ipsilateral sheath. The stent was deployed at the EIA and crushed the collagen with the footplate. CONCLUSIONS: MBF were used to grasp the dislodged collagen with the anchor and cover it with a stent at the iliac artery. This may be a useful bailout technique for Angio-Seal dislodgement.

Percutaneous endovascular management of Angio-Seal related vascular occlusion.

BACKGROUND: The use of vascular closure devices (VCDs) to achieve quick and safe hemostasis after femoral arterial access is widely accepted. Major complications include bleeding and occlusion of the femoral artery due to device failure, which often necessitates vascular intervention. This manuscript details our peripheral percutaneous endovascular interventional (PEI) approach for the management of femoral artery occlusion resulting from Angio-Seal (Terumo, Somerset, New Jersey, USA) VCD deployment. METHODS: Consecutive patients who developed occlusive complications after Angio-Seal deployment underwent PEI to overcome specific complications. Patients' clinical and procedural characteristics, along with their short- and long-term follow-up data, were analyzed. RESULTS: The study cohort included 40 patients who experienced Angio-Seal occlusive complications between July 2013 and September 2023. The mean age of the patients was 74 ± 10 years and 55% were female. All the patients were treated with PEI, with an overall procedural success rate of 100%. The primary approach for PEI was directional atherectomy, which was used in 35 cases (88%), followed by balloon, while a cutting balloon was used in 5 patients (13%). Stenting served as the definitive therapy in only 7 patients (18%). No procedural complications or conversions to surgery were observed. During a median follow-up of 244 (IQR = 100-707) days, none of the patients required re-intervention related to Angio-Seal occlusion and salvage intervention. CONCLUSION: In the management of Angi-Seal VCD-related femoral artery occlusion, the adjunctive use of directional atherectomy followed by balloon angioplasty was effective and safe, allowing re-establishment of flow with excellent long-term outcomes.

Investigations on the Health Status and Infection Risk of Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) from Waters of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea, Germany.

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most common pinniped species in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, Germany. Their numbers have recovered after significant depletion due to viral outbreaks and effects of anthropogenic activities like pollution and habitat disturbance. Within the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony the harbour seal is protected. As a top predator in the Wadden Sea ecosystem, the harbour seal is a sentinel species for the state of the environment. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 80 stranded dead harbour seals were collected along the coastline of Lower Saxony and submitted for pathological investigations. Of these, 70 seals were born in the same year (0-7 months, age group 1) and eight in the previous year (8-19 months, age group 2), due to high mortality rates in these age groups. However, two perennial animals were also available for examination during this period, one of which was in good nutritional condition. Many of the seals that had been mercy-killed and found dead were in poor nutritional status. Histopathological, microbiological, parasitological and virological examinations were conducted on 69 individuals (86% (69/80)) in a suitable state of preservation. Respiratory tract parasitosis, cachexia, and bronchopneumonia were the most common causes of death or disease. Overall, there was no evidence of a relapse of a viral disease outbreak. Macrowaste, such as plastic waste or fishery-related debris, were not found in any gastrointestinal tract of the animals examined. There was also no evidence of grey seal predation. Weakness and cachexia were prominent causes of disease and death in harbour seals found within a few weeks after birth, but bronchopneumonia and septicaemia also developed in slightly older animals. Frequently found microbial pathogens in seals from Lower Saxony were similar to those found in other studies on seals from the Wadden Sea region in Schleswig-Holstein, for example streptococci and Escherichia coli/v. haemolytica, Brucella spp. and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, potentially human pathogenic germs. The results of the examinations of dead harbour seals from Lower Saxony show that pathological investigations on a representative number of animals deliver urgently needed information on the health status of the population. The results represent an important contribution to the state of the top predators of the Wadden Sea as part of the obligations within the Trilateral Wadden Sea Agreement, Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) and the Marine Framework Directive. The investigations should be continued as a matter of urgency and the stranding network should be expanded.

Intrasaccular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: The endovascular treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms, such as wide-neck aneurysms (WNAs), remains a challenge. More established endovascular techniques, which include balloon-assisted coiling, stent-assisted coiling, and flow diversion, all have their drawbacks. Intrasaccular flow disruptor devices have emerged as a useful tool for the neurointerventionalist. Methods: Here, we discuss landmark studies and provide a comprehensive, narrative review of the Woven EndoBridge (WEB; Microvention, Alisa Viejo, CA, USA), Artisse (Medtronic, Irvine, CA, USA), Contour (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA), Saccular Endovascular Aneurysm Lattice Embolization System (SEAL; Galaxy Therapeutics Inc, Milpitas, CA, USA), Medina (Medtronic, Irvine, CA, USA), and Trenza (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) devices. Results: Intrasaccular devices have proven to be effective in treating complex aneurysms like WNAs. Conclusions: Intrasaccular flow disruptors have emerged as a new class of effective endovascular therapy, and results of ongoing clinical studies for the newer devices (e.g., SEAL and Trenza) are much anticipated.

Suitability of Test Procedures for Determining the Compatibility of Seal Materials with Ionic Hydraulic Fluids.

The compatibility of seal materials with the working fluid is crucial for the flawless, energy-saving, environmentally sustainable, and safe operation of any technical system. This is especially true for hydraulic systems operating under high operating pressure. The problem of materials compatibility comes into play when either a new type of seal material or a new type of fluid comes into use. The paper discusses the research findings regarding material compatibility testing of new high-tech ionic hydraulic fluids with commonly used seal materials. Due to the completely different chemical composition of these new fluids compared to the classical mineral-based oil, for these fluids, there are no standardized testing procedures. In these cases, we can only lean on the Standards that apply to classical fluids, which can lead to incorrect results. In the forefront of the paper is the discrepancy between the results obtained by the standardized test, and the test under real operating conditions. FKM, an excellent material for seals, proved to be the most suitable in the case of using ionic hydraulic fluid, according to a standardized test. However, it failed in the comparison test under real operating conditions, as the cylinder leaked. NBR seals proved to be a better solution.

Mercury and stable nitrogen isotope ratios in the hair of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus nauticus) from the Sea of Okhotsk.

The mercury pollution status in the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk remains largely unexplored. In this study, hair samples were collected from 40 bearded seals harvested between August and October 2021 in the region. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in the samples exhibited a wide range from 137 to 1885 ng/g (median: 407 ng/g). While no significant differences in THg concentrations were found between male and female seals, distinctions were observed between young and potentially mature seals. Stable nitrogen isotope analysis indicated that juveniles and mature adults did not differ, although sample sizes were limiting. The higher THg concentrations in juveniles were attributed to variations in the seals' diets and/or variations in foraging locations during the juvenile stage which likely contribute to THg differences due to greater seasonal migration to offshore habitats. Notably, THg levels in bearded seals from the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk were lower in comparison to other pinniped species in the North Pacific. These findings, representing the first dataset for this pinniped species in the Russian segment of its habitat, contribute insights into mercury exposure in the Sea of Okhotsk mammalian population.

Molecular basis of proteolytic cleavage regulation by the extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan.

The dystrophin-glycoprotein-complex (DGC), anchored by the transmembrane protein dystroglycan, functions to mechanically link the extracellular matrix and actin cytoskeleton. Breaking this connection is associated with diseases such as muscular dystrophy, yet cleavage of dystroglycan by matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) remains an understudied mechanism to disrupt the DGC. We determined the crystal structure of the membrane-adjacent domain (amino acids 491-722) of E. coli expressed human dystroglycan to understand MMP cleavage regulation. The structural model includes tandem immunoglobulin-like (IGL) and sperm/enterokinase/agrin-like (SEAL) domains, which support proteolysis in diverse receptors to facilitate mechanotransduction, membrane protection, and viral entry. The structure reveals a C-terminal extension that buries the MMP site by packing into a hydrophobic pocket, a unique mechanism of MMP cleavage regulation. We further demonstrate structure-guided and disease-associated mutations disrupt proteolytic regulation using a cell-surface proteolysis assay. Thus disrupted proteolysis is a potentially relevant mechanism for "breaking" the DGC link to contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Behavioural response of Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) to vessel noise during peak and off-peak human visitation.

Vessel traffic is the greatest contributor to marine anthropogenic noise pollution, and particularly affects species utilising coastal areas. Seal Rocks (Victoria), the largest Australian fur seal breeding colony, has a relatively small vessel exclusion zone during the pupping and breeding season, when vessel traffic is at its peak. It is necessary to understand the impacts of visitation at sensitive marine sites to ensure they are adequately protected from human disturbance. This study assessed the behavioural response of hauled-out Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks to controlled vessel noise exposure during peak and off-peak vessel visitation periods. High level noise exposure (76-80 dB) resulted in increased vigilance and interruption to vital behaviours in both peak and off-peak periods. These behavioural responses were limited to the period of noise exposure but are nevertheless indicative of disturbance. It is important to ensure regulations intended to protect sensitive sites are up-to-date and evidence based.

The Abrasive Effect of Moon and Mars Regolith Simulants on Stainless Steel Rotating Shaft and Polytetrafluoroethylene Sealing Material Pairs.

For space missions to either the Moon or Mars, protecting mechanical moving parts from the abrasive effects of prevailing surface dust is crucial. This paper compares the abrasive effects of two lunar and two Martian simulant regoliths using special pin-on-disc tests on a stainless steel/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing material pair. Due to the regolith particles entering the contact zone, a three-body abrasion mechanism took place. We found that friction coefficients stabilised between 0.2 and 0.4 for all simulants. Wear curves, surface roughness measurements, and microscopic images all suggest a significantly lower abrasion effect of the Martian regoliths than that of the lunar ones. It applies not only to steel surfaces but also to the PTFE pins. The dominant abrasive micro-mechanism of the disc surface is micro-ploughing in the case of all tests, while the transformation of the counterface is mixed. The surface of pin material is plastically transformed through micro-ploughing, while the material is removed through micro-cutting due to the slide over hard soil particles.

Essential Improvements in Fat Percentage and Cardiometabolic Fitness After a Residential Stay for Socially Vulnerable Children-With and Without the "11 for Health" Concept.

The Danish Christmas Seal Homes offer a 10-week residential stay for socially vulnerable children. We aimed to examine the effects on body composition and cardiometabolic fitness variables of the standard program (SG) and whether substituting physical activity sessions with sessions from a football-based health education program is beneficial for the participants ("11 for Health"; SG+). Three hundred and nine children participated in SG (12.4 [1.6] y) and 305 in SG+ (12.4 [1.4] y). Fat percentage was lowered by 6% for females (from 37% to 31%) and 8% for males (from 36% to 28%), with no between-group differences. We observed improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (3 and 5 mm Hg, respectively), resting heart rate (10 beats/min), aerobic fitness, jump performance, and relative muscle mass with no between-group differences. Furthermore, there were between-group differences in insulin levels for females (1.7 pmol/L; 95% CI, 0.3 to 3.0) and postural balance for males (1.0 s; 95% CI, 0.0 to 2.0), both in favor of SG+, and covered distance in the Andersen test for females (26 m; 95% CI, 3 to 49) in favor of SG. In conclusion, a 10-week stay at the Danish Christmas Seal Home resulted in clinically relevant improvement in fat percentage and cardiometabolic fitness in socially vulnerable children, regardless of the program type.

The nasal cavity of the bearded seal: An effective and robust organ for retaining body heat and water.

We report the effects of varying physiological and other properties on the heat and water exchange in the maxilloturbinate structure (MT) of the bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus or Eb) in realistic environments, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. We find that the water retention in percent is very high (about 90 %) and relatively unaffected by either cold (-30 °C) or warm (10 °C) conditions. The retention of heat is also high, around 80 % . Based on a consideration of entropy production by the maxilloturbinate system, we show that anatomical and physiological properties of the seal provide good conditions for heat and water exchange at the mucus lining in the seal's nasal cavity. At normal values of tidal volume and maxilloturbinate (MT) length, the air temperature in the MT reaches the body temperature before the air has left the MT channels. This confers a safety factor which is expected to be helpful in exercise, when ventilation increases.

The deeper the rounder: body shape variation in lice parasitizing diving hosts.

Seal lice, unique among insects, show remarkable adaptability to the extreme conditions of the deep sea. Evolving with their seal and sea lion hosts, they have managed to tolerate hypoxia, high salinity, low temperature, and elevated hydrostatic pressure. Given the diving capabilities of their mammalian hosts, which can reach depths of hundreds to thousands of meters, our study examines the morphological variation among closely related seal lice species infesting hosts with different maximum diving depths. In particular, our research reveals a significant morphological difference between lice associated with regular and deep-diving hosts, where lice from deep-diving hosts tend to be rounder. This could be an adaptation to withstand the high hydrostatic pressures found in the deep ocean. The rounded shape optimizes the louse's ability to withstand external pressure by redistributing it over a larger ventral/dorsal plane. This in turn minimizes the internal energy required to support body deformations, thereby increasing the louse's resilience in the deep sea environment.

Trophic and environmental influences on trace element concentrations in Australian fur seals.

Trace elements (TE) in living organisms can have detrimental health impacts depending on their concentration. As many TEs are obtained through diet, trophic niche changes associated with the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate-change may influence exposure to top predators. The Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus; AUFS) represents the greatest resident, marine predator biomass in south-eastern Australia. With adult female foraging ranges limited to the continental shelf, their source of TEs is geographically restricted. Plasma, red blood cell and milk samples collected between 1998 and 2022 at Kanowna Island, were analysed for TEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V and Zn) using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Plasma fatty-acid profiles and ocean climate variables were used to investigate trophic and environmental influences, respectively, on TE concentrations. Estimated whole blood concentrations in lactating females were comparable to levels reported in other marine mammals, except for Se and Mn. Correlations between adult tissues were negative for Mn and positive for As, Hg and Sn. Molar Se:Hg were high but within reported levels for pinnipeds. Element concentrations in pup plasma were greater than lactating females for Fe, Mn and Sn indicative of high transplacental transfer while doses of Se and As from milk exceeded tolerable effect levels for humans. Relationships with fatty-acid profiles suggest diet influenced concentrations of Cu, Hg, Mn, Sn, V and Zn in adult plasma. In addition, inter-annual variation in TE concentrations were influenced by broad-scale climate indices, including the Southern Annular Mode and the Southern Oscillation Index, and local conditions associated with the seasonally-active Bonney Upwelling. These findings indicate that TE concentrations in blood and milk of AUFS are and will continue to be affected by anticipated oceanographic changes, mediated by alterations in prey type availability, with potential impacts on the population's health.