Plasticity in the morphometrics and movements of an Antarctic apex predator, the leopard seal

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Kienle, Sarah S., Goebel, Michael E., LaBrecque, Erin, Borras-Chavez, Renato, Trumble, Stephen J., Kanatous, Shane B., Crocker, Daniel E., Costa, Daniel P.
• Other Authors: Office of Polar Programs
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Frontiers Media SA 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Austral; Hydrurga; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Hydrurga leptonyx; Leopard Seal; Leopard Seals
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976019; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.976019/full

Animals that display plasticity in behavioral, ecological, and morphological traits are better poised to cope with environmental disturbances. Here, we examined individual plasticity and intraspecific variation in the morphometrics, movement patterns, and dive behavior of an enigmatic apex predator,...