TLDR Climate-related nutritional stress may cause hair loss in juvenile male Guadalupe fur seals.
Alopecia, characterized by hair or fur loss, has been observed in juvenile male Guadalupe fur seals from the San Benito Archipelago, raising concerns for this endangered species. In the summers of 2017 and 2018, researchers captured 13 fur seals and conducted dermatological analyses, including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy, on their fur samples. The study revealed significant damage to the guard fur's structure, including loss of integrity, medullary damage, and perforations, while damage to the secondary underfur was less frequent. No evidence of dermatophyte microorganisms or ectoparasites, which are commonly associated with alopecia, was found. The study suggests that the alopecia may be due to metabolic changes related to nutritional stress, which in turn is linked to high sea surface temperatures affecting prey availability. This research represents the first study of alopecia in an otariid pinniped in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.
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