Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island
© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Occurrences of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the waters surrounding Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island have been recorded since the 1820s; however, their presence only became the focus of scientific research in the mid-1990s. The analyses...
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ftdeakinunifig:oai:figshare.com:article/20799475 2023-05-15T13:41:34+02:00 Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island T Travers J van den Hoff M A Lea K Carlyon R Reisinger P J N de Bruyn Margaret Morrice 2018-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30117147 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Aspects_of_the_ecology_of_killer_whale_Orcinus_orca_Linn_groups_in_the_near-shore_waters_of_Sub-Antarctic_Macquarie_Island/20799475 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30117147 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Aspects_of_the_ecology_of_killer_whale_Orcinus_orca_Linn_groups_in_the_near-shore_waters_of_Sub-Antarctic_Macquarie_Island/20799475 All Rights Reserved Ecology Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology Diet Feeding behaviour Group size Southern elephant seal SEALS MIROUNGA-LEONINA CROZET ARCHIPELAGO POPULATION BEHAVIOR PREDATION ABUNDANCE OCEAN CONSEQUENCES PATAGONIA DECLINES Text Journal contribution 2018 ftdeakinunifig 2022-11-17T19:49:57Z © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Occurrences of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the waters surrounding Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island have been recorded since the 1820s; however, their presence only became the focus of scientific research in the mid-1990s. The analyses of sightings data collected from the island between 1986 and 2015 are presented herein. The study provides evidence of a relationship between killer whale sighting probability and seasonal prey availability. Killer whales were present at the island year-round with a distinct seasonal peak in November–December, and coincident with a peak in occurrence of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) due to breeding season activity, particularly the dispersal of weaned pups. Supporting this association and killer whales’ top-down influence on the survival of juvenile and adult southern elephant seals, pinnipeds accounted for 79% of prey identified, with weaned southern elephant seal pups contributing over a quarter of feeding events observed in the near-shore environment. Fur seals and penguins were also identified as prey. Killer whale groups had a median group size of three individuals, and groups of three to five individuals were most often observed feeding/milling in near-shore waters. The largest range in group sizes were observed during their peak occurrence in early summer, particularly in the number of sub-adult and female whales per group. Adult males made up 75% of single occurrences, and singletons were most often observed travelling. Overall, the ecology of killer whales at Macquarie Island was similar to that of killer whales studied at other Sub-Antarctic locations, with comparable seasonality, behaviour, diet, and group structure. Much remains to be learnt regarding the seasonal movements of whales and their diet at other times of year, their relationship to killer whales sighted in coastal Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic ecosystems, and impact on diet from commercial fisheries operations and ... Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Killer Whale Macquarie Island Mirounga leonina Orca Orcinus orca Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals Killer whale DRO - Deakin Research Online Antarctic Patagonia New Zealand |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
DRO - Deakin Research Online |
op_collection_id |
ftdeakinunifig |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Ecology Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology Diet Feeding behaviour Group size Southern elephant seal SEALS MIROUNGA-LEONINA CROZET ARCHIPELAGO POPULATION BEHAVIOR PREDATION ABUNDANCE OCEAN CONSEQUENCES PATAGONIA DECLINES |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology Diet Feeding behaviour Group size Southern elephant seal SEALS MIROUNGA-LEONINA CROZET ARCHIPELAGO POPULATION BEHAVIOR PREDATION ABUNDANCE OCEAN CONSEQUENCES PATAGONIA DECLINES T Travers J van den Hoff M A Lea K Carlyon R Reisinger P J N de Bruyn Margaret Morrice Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
topic_facet |
Ecology Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity & Conservation Environmental Sciences & Ecology Diet Feeding behaviour Group size Southern elephant seal SEALS MIROUNGA-LEONINA CROZET ARCHIPELAGO POPULATION BEHAVIOR PREDATION ABUNDANCE OCEAN CONSEQUENCES PATAGONIA DECLINES |
description |
© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Occurrences of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the waters surrounding Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island have been recorded since the 1820s; however, their presence only became the focus of scientific research in the mid-1990s. The analyses of sightings data collected from the island between 1986 and 2015 are presented herein. The study provides evidence of a relationship between killer whale sighting probability and seasonal prey availability. Killer whales were present at the island year-round with a distinct seasonal peak in November–December, and coincident with a peak in occurrence of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) due to breeding season activity, particularly the dispersal of weaned pups. Supporting this association and killer whales’ top-down influence on the survival of juvenile and adult southern elephant seals, pinnipeds accounted for 79% of prey identified, with weaned southern elephant seal pups contributing over a quarter of feeding events observed in the near-shore environment. Fur seals and penguins were also identified as prey. Killer whale groups had a median group size of three individuals, and groups of three to five individuals were most often observed feeding/milling in near-shore waters. The largest range in group sizes were observed during their peak occurrence in early summer, particularly in the number of sub-adult and female whales per group. Adult males made up 75% of single occurrences, and singletons were most often observed travelling. Overall, the ecology of killer whales at Macquarie Island was similar to that of killer whales studied at other Sub-Antarctic locations, with comparable seasonality, behaviour, diet, and group structure. Much remains to be learnt regarding the seasonal movements of whales and their diet at other times of year, their relationship to killer whales sighted in coastal Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic ecosystems, and impact on diet from commercial fisheries operations and ... |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
T Travers J van den Hoff M A Lea K Carlyon R Reisinger P J N de Bruyn Margaret Morrice |
author_facet |
T Travers J van den Hoff M A Lea K Carlyon R Reisinger P J N de Bruyn Margaret Morrice |
author_sort |
T Travers |
title |
Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
title_short |
Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
title_full |
Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
title_fullStr |
Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
title_full_unstemmed |
Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island |
title_sort |
aspects of the ecology of killer whale (orcinus orca linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of sub-antarctic macquarie island |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30117147 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Aspects_of_the_ecology_of_killer_whale_Orcinus_orca_Linn_groups_in_the_near-shore_waters_of_Sub-Antarctic_Macquarie_Island/20799475 |
geographic |
Antarctic Patagonia New Zealand |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Patagonia New Zealand |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Killer Whale Macquarie Island Mirounga leonina Orca Orcinus orca Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Killer Whale Macquarie Island Mirounga leonina Orca Orcinus orca Southern Elephant Seal Southern Elephant Seals Killer whale |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30117147 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Aspects_of_the_ecology_of_killer_whale_Orcinus_orca_Linn_groups_in_the_near-shore_waters_of_Sub-Antarctic_Macquarie_Island/20799475 |
op_rights |
All Rights Reserved |
_version_ |
1766152543703924736 |