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Winter habitat predictions of a key Southern Ocean predator, the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella)
Citation
Arthur, B and Hindell, M and Bester, M and De Bruyn, PJN and Trathan, P and Goebel, M and Lea, M-A, Winter habitat predictions of a key Southern Ocean predator, the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), Deep-Sea Research. Part 2, 140 pp. 171-181. ISSN 0967-0645 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.10.009
Abstract
Quantification of the physical and biological environmental factors that influence the spatial distribution of
higher trophic species is central to inform management and develop ecosystem models, particularly in light of
ocean changes. We used tracking data from 184 female Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) to develop
habitat models for three breeding colonies for the poorly studied Southern Ocean winter period. Models were
used to identify and predict the broadly important winter foraging habitat and to elucidate the environmental
factors influencing these areas. Model predictions closely matched observations and several core areas of
foraging habitat were identified for each colony, with notable areas of inter-colony overlap suggesting shared
productive foraging grounds. Seals displayed clear choice of foraging habitat, travelling through areas of
presumably poorer quality to access habitats that likely offer an energetic advantage in terms of prey intake. The
relationships between environmental predictors and foraging habitat varied between colonies, with the principal
predictors being wind speed, sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, bathymetry and distance to
the colony. The availability of core foraging areas was not consistent throughout the winter period. The habitat
models developed in this study not only reveal the core foraging habitats of Antarctic fur seals from multiple
colonies, but can facilitate the hindcasting of historical foraging habitats as well as novel predictions of
important habitat for other major colonies currently lacking information of the at-sea distribution of this major
Southern Ocean consumer.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Foraging behaviour, geographical distribution, habitat model, pinniped, prediction, tracking |
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Environmental Science and Management |
| Research Field: | Wildlife and Habitat Management |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Environments |
| Author: | Arthur, B (Dr Benjamin Arthur) |
| Author: | Hindell, M (Professor Mark Hindell) |
| Author: | Lea, M-A (Associate Professor Mary-Anne Lea) |
| ID Code: | 114525 |
| Year Published: | 2017 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 4 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2017-02-17 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-04-18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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