The international Society for Marine Mammalogy, which oversees marine mammal taxonomy, has accepted the arguments presented by researchers from the Universities of Helsinki and Eastern Finland as well as the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) for elevating the Saimaa ringed seal to full species status, instead of being classified as a subspecies.
The Saimaa ringed seal has now been updated in the global List of Marine Mammal Species and Subspecies as a distinct species, Pusa saimensis. This decision is a highly significant step as an official recognition of the species status. The Saimaa ringed seal is Finland’s only endemic mammal and also one of the few endemic mammals in Europe. The adoption of the new species status across various online and literature sources will, however, take some time.
The species status is based on the latest information on the genetic and morphological differences of the Saimaa ringed seal compared to all other ringed seals. Recognising the Saimaa ringed seal as a distinct species further emphasises its uniqueness and the importance of its conservation. Although its population has slowly increased thanks to conservation efforts, the entire global population of the species still numbers only about 500 individuals. This makes it extremely vulnerable to changes in breeding conditions and to mortality caused by human activity.
Relative to the size and fragmented geography of Lake Saimaa, the seals remain too few and far between to ensure sufficient exchange of individuals between different lake basins. This can lead to reduced genetic diversity and inbreeding-related problems, especially in smaller subpopulations. The recognition of the Saimaa ringed seal as a distinct species further strengthens the scientific and ethical basis for long-term, well-resourced, and broad-based conservation efforts.
Researchers hope that Finns will feel pride in this unique, extraordinarily interesting, and also charming seal species – a true national symbol whose future will hopefully now be better secured.
Link to the original publication: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2503368122
For further information, please contact:
Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics Jaakko Pohjoismäki, University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, [email protected], tel. +358 50 361 0813
Senior Researcher Mervi Kunnasranta, University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, [email protected], tel. +358 50 371 3408
Academy Professor Jukka Jernvall, University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, [email protected], tel. +358 40 740 3478
University Lecturer Ari Löytynoja, University of Helsinki, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, [email protected]
