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Foraging distribution overlap and marine reserve usage amongst sub-Antarctic predators inferred from a multi-species satellite tagging experiment

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 01:16 authored by Patterson, TA, Ruth SharplesRuth Sharples, Ben Raymond, Welsford, DC, Andrews-Goff, V, Mary-Anne LeaMary-Anne Lea, Goldsworthy, SD, Gales, NJ, Mark HindellMark Hindell
Satellite telemetry data was used to predict at sea spatial usage of five top order and meso-predators; Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus), king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), black browed albatross (Diomedea melanophrys), and light mantled albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata). All were tagged at Heard Island in the Southern Ocean over a single summer season collecting over 5000 tracking days for 178 individuals. We aimed to predict areas of likely high foraging value from tracking environmental data and also to quantify overlap in foraging range between species. Hidden Markov models were used to differentiate between bouts of Area Restricted Search (ARS) assumed to be associated with areas of higher foraging value, and transit behaviours. Oceanographic and distance metrics associated with ARS activity were then used to calculate a habitat electivity index. A combined bootstrap/Monte Carlo scheme was employed to propagate uncertainty from the Hidden Markov models into the habitat prediction scheme. Distinct differences were predicted in the spatial distribution of foraging locations in different species, reflecting different dispersive abilities and foraging strategy. The extent of usage and foraging distribution was largely contained within Australian the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ). In comparison, the smaller Australian Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) contained < 20% of the predicted foraging distributions.

Funding

Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth)

History

Publication title

Ecological Indicators

Volume

70

Pagination

531-544

ISSN

1470-160X

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Place of publication

Netherlands

Rights statement

Copyright 2016 Crown copyright. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems

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