PLASMA HAPTOGLOBIN LEVELS IN THREATENED ALASKAN PINNIPED POPULATIONS

We evaluated the plasma concentration of the acute phase protein hapto globin (Hp) from Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and harbor sea ls (Phoca vitulina) in regions of Alaska (USA) where the populations o f these pinnipeds were declining and compared the values with concentr ations of Hp from the same species in areas where the populations mere stable. Samples were collected from 1992 through 1994 at sites in Sou theast Alaska, Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Aleut ian Islands. Significantly higher levels of Hp were found in the sampl es from the areas of decline compared to those from stable populations . Based on these findings, we propose that one may be able to distingu ish these compromised pinniped populations using Hp as a biomedical in dicator.