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Drift dives by male New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 17:38 authored by Page, B, McKenzie, J, Mark HindellMark Hindell, Goldsworthy, SDSome phocid seal diving-behaviour studies have identified dives characterised by a period of passive drifting through the water column, rather than active locomotion. During these "drift dives" seals are thought to preferentially direct energy towards processing of food, lactate, or renal metabolites rather than to active propulsion. We describe the first drift dives reported in an otariid, the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson, 1828)), studied at Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Not all males in the study undertook drift dives and those that did were significantly heavier than those that did not, suggesting that body size may influence the propensity to drift dive in New Zealand fur seals. Drift dives lasted 6.0 ± 1.78 min and had passive drift segments of 3.5 ± 1.5 min, during which seals showed a negative change in depth (i.e., sinking) of 0.14 ± 0.05 m/s. Drift dives occurred at night and were possibly undertaken to avoid near-surface predators and to process food, lactate, or renal metabolites while resting. © 2005 NRC.
History
Publication title
Canadian Journal of ZoologyVolume
83Pagination
293-300ISSN
0008-4301Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
NRC Research PressPlace of publication
CanadaRepository Status
- Restricted