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Use of anthropogenic sea floor structures by Australian fur seals: potential positive ecological impacts of marine industrial development?
Citation
Arnould, JPY and Monk, J and Ierodiaconou, D and Hindell, MA and Semmens, J and Hoskins, AJ and Costa, DP and Abernathy, K and Marshall, GJ, Use of anthropogenic sea floor structures by Australian fur seals: potential positive ecological impacts of marine industrial development?, PLoS ONE, 10, (7) Article e0130581. ISSN 1932-6203 (2015) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130581
Abstract
Human-induced changes to habitats can have deleterious effects on many species that
occupy them. However, some species can adapt and even benefit from such modifications.
Artificial reefs have long been used to provide habitat for invertebrate communities and promote
local fish populations. With the increasing demand for energy resources within ocean
systems, there has been an expansion of infrastructure in near-shore benthic environments
which function as de facto artificial reefs. Little is known of their use by marine mammals. In
this study, the influence of anthropogenic sea floor structures (pipelines, cable routes, wells
and shipwrecks) on the foraging locations of 36 adult female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus
pusillus doriferus) was investigated. For 9 (25%) of the individuals, distance to
anthropogenic sea floor structures was the most important factor in determining the location
of intensive foraging activity. Whereas the influence of anthropogenic sea floor structures
on foraging locations was not related to age and mass, it was positively related to flipper
length/standard length (a factor which can affect manoeuvrability). A total of 26 (72%) individuals
tracked with GPS were recorded spending time in the vicinity of structures (from
<1% to >75% of the foraging trip duration) with pipelines and cable routes being the most
frequented. No relationships were found between the amount of time spent frequenting
anthropogenic structures and individual characteristics. More than a third (35%) of animals
foraging near anthropogenic sea floor structures visited more than one type of structure.
These results further highlight potentially beneficial ecological outcomes of marine industrial
development.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, piplines cable routes, biologging |
| Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
| Research Group: | Fisheries sciences |
| Research Field: | Aquaculture and fisheries stock assessment |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Monk, J (Dr Jacquomo Monk) |
| UTAS Author: | Hindell, MA (Professor Mark Hindell) |
| UTAS Author: | Semmens, J (Professor Jayson Semmens) |
| ID Code: | 101906 |
| Year Published: | 2015 |
| Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (DP110102065) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 33 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2015-07-16 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-04 |
| Downloads: | 314 View Download Statistics |
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