Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter
This study describes the distribution of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli in winter (May-September 1999) at the Vestfold Hills, in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Specifically, we describe the spatial extent of haul-out sites in shore-fast sea-ice, commonly referred to as fast-ice. As winter progres...
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:34564 2023-05-15T14:03:54+02:00 Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter Lake, SE Wotherspoon, SJ Burton, HR 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x http://ecite.utas.edu.au/34564 en eng Blackwell http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x Lake, SE and Wotherspoon, SJ and Burton, HR, Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter, Ecography, 28, (3) pp. 295-306. ISSN 0906-7590 (2005) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/34564 Biological Sciences Zoology Zoology not elsewhere classified Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2005 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x 2019-12-13T21:13:16Z This study describes the distribution of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli in winter (May-September 1999) at the Vestfold Hills, in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Specifically, we describe the spatial extent of haul-out sites in shore-fast sea-ice, commonly referred to as fast-ice. As winter progressed, and the fast-ice grew thick (ca 2 m), most of the inshore holes closed over, and the seals' distribution became restricted to ocean areas beyond land and islands. Using observations from the end of winter only, we fitted Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) to generate resource selection functions, which are models that yield values proportional to the probability of use. The models showed that seal distribution was defined mainly by distance to ice-edge and distance to land. Distance to ice-bergs was also selected for models of some regions. We present the results as maps of the fitted probability of seal presence, predicted by the binomial GAM for offshore regions, both with and without autocorrelation terms. The maps illustrate the expected distribution encompassing most of the observed distribution. On this basis, we hypothesise that propensity for the fast-ice to crack is the major determinant of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Proximity to open water and pack-ice habitats could also influence the distribution of haul-out sites in fast-ice areas. This is the first quantitative study of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Potential for regional variation is discussed. Copyright Ecography 2005. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Leptonychotes weddelli Prydz Bay Sea ice Weddell Seal Weddell Seals eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) East Antarctica Gam ENVELOPE(-57.955,-57.955,-61.923,-61.923) Prydz Bay Vestfold Vestfold Hills Weddell Ecography 28 3 295 306 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Biological Sciences Zoology Zoology not elsewhere classified |
spellingShingle |
Biological Sciences Zoology Zoology not elsewhere classified Lake, SE Wotherspoon, SJ Burton, HR Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
topic_facet |
Biological Sciences Zoology Zoology not elsewhere classified |
description |
This study describes the distribution of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli in winter (May-September 1999) at the Vestfold Hills, in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Specifically, we describe the spatial extent of haul-out sites in shore-fast sea-ice, commonly referred to as fast-ice. As winter progressed, and the fast-ice grew thick (ca 2 m), most of the inshore holes closed over, and the seals' distribution became restricted to ocean areas beyond land and islands. Using observations from the end of winter only, we fitted Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) to generate resource selection functions, which are models that yield values proportional to the probability of use. The models showed that seal distribution was defined mainly by distance to ice-edge and distance to land. Distance to ice-bergs was also selected for models of some regions. We present the results as maps of the fitted probability of seal presence, predicted by the binomial GAM for offshore regions, both with and without autocorrelation terms. The maps illustrate the expected distribution encompassing most of the observed distribution. On this basis, we hypothesise that propensity for the fast-ice to crack is the major determinant of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Proximity to open water and pack-ice habitats could also influence the distribution of haul-out sites in fast-ice areas. This is the first quantitative study of Weddell seal distribution in winter. Potential for regional variation is discussed. Copyright Ecography 2005. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lake, SE Wotherspoon, SJ Burton, HR |
author_facet |
Lake, SE Wotherspoon, SJ Burton, HR |
author_sort |
Lake, SE |
title |
Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
title_short |
Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
title_full |
Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
title_fullStr |
Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
title_sort |
spatial utilisation of fast-ice by weddell seals leptonychotes weddelli during winter |
publisher |
Blackwell |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x http://ecite.utas.edu.au/34564 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-57.955,-57.955,-61.923,-61.923) |
geographic |
East Antarctica Gam Prydz Bay Vestfold Vestfold Hills Weddell |
geographic_facet |
East Antarctica Gam Prydz Bay Vestfold Vestfold Hills Weddell |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Leptonychotes weddelli Prydz Bay Sea ice Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Leptonychotes weddelli Prydz Bay Sea ice Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x Lake, SE and Wotherspoon, SJ and Burton, HR, Spatial utilisation of fast-ice by Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddelli during winter, Ecography, 28, (3) pp. 295-306. ISSN 0906-7590 (2005) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/34564 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03949.x |
container_title |
Ecography |
container_volume |
28 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
295 |
op_container_end_page |
306 |
_version_ |
1766274787026403328 |