Antarctic pack ice seal observations during spring across the Lazarev Sea

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Bester, Marthán N., Lübcker, Nico, Haddad, Wiam, Bornemann, Horst, Wege, Mia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2021
• Subjects: Antarctic; Austral; Weddell; Lazarev; Lazarev Sea; Antarc*; Antarctic Fur Seals; Crabeater Seal; Crabeater Seals; Leopard Seal; Leopard Seals; Polar Record; Ross Seal; Sea ice; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003224742100005x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S003224742100005X

Abstract The distribution, density and percentage contribution of pack ice seals during ship-board censuses in the marginal sea ice zone beyond the Lazarev Sea in spring 2019 are presented. Adult/juvenile crabeater seals ( n = 19), leopard seals ( n = 3) and Ross seals ( n = 10) were sighted during 582.2 nm of censuses along the ship’s track line in the area bounded by 00°00’–22°E and 56°–60°S. Antarctic fur seals ( n = 21) were only encountered on the outer fringes of the pack ice, and Weddell seals were absent due to their primary use of fast ice and inner pack ice habitats close to the coast. Crabeater seal sightings included juveniles ( n = 2) and another four groups of 2–3 unclassified crabeater seals, singletons ( n = 5), single mothers with pups ( n = 3) and a family group ( n = 1 triad). Only one leopard seal attended a pup, while no Ross seal pups were located. The survey was likely of insufficient effort, in both extent (north of 60°S) and duration (18 days), to locate seals in considerable numbers this early (late October/early November) in their austral spring breeding season.