Why We Use Telemetry Telemetry helps scientists study animals
where they cannot directly observe them. Ushagat Island, Alaska,
home to Steller sea lions, sea otters, killer whales, and harbor
seals is one of these isolated places. These marine mammals are
connected with each other in food webs that affect their
survival. Many of these populations are declining, including the
Steller sea lion. Steller sea lions spend a large part of their
lives at sea or hauled-out on land in remote areas. Telemetry
allows researchers to study Steller sea lions around the clock,
anywhere on the planet, in any type of weather, and, most
importantly, underwater. Dr. Markus Horning at Oregon State
University and Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish at the Alaska Sea Life Center
study the population ecology of Steller sea lions in remote
locations like Ushagat Island using satellite telemetry tags
called Life History Transmitters (LHX). They want to learn why
the Steller sea lion population is not recovering by discovering
how Steller sea lions are