Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator
The deployment of animal-borne electronic tags is revolutionizing our understanding of how pelagic species respond to their environment by providing in situ oceanographic information such as temperature, salinity, and light measurements. These tags, deployed on pelagic animals, provide data that can...
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:98580 2023-05-15T16:05:46+02:00 Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator O'Toole, MD Lea, MA Guinet, C Hindell, MA 2014 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25427104 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580 en eng Public Library of Science http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580/1/OToole_2014.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 O'Toole, MD and Lea, MA and Guinet, C and Hindell, MA, Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator, PLoS ONE, 9, (11) Article e113171. ISSN 1932-6203 (2014) [Refereed Article] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25427104 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580 Environmental Sciences Environmental Science and Management Wildlife and Habitat Management Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2014 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 2019-12-13T22:00:39Z The deployment of animal-borne electronic tags is revolutionizing our understanding of how pelagic species respond to their environment by providing in situ oceanographic information such as temperature, salinity, and light measurements. These tags, deployed on pelagic animals, provide data that can be used to study the ecological context of their foraging behaviour and surrounding environment. Satellite-derived measures of ocean colour reveal temporal and spatial variability of surface chlorophyll-a (a useful proxy for phytoplankton distribution). However, this information can be patchy in space and time resulting in poor correspondence with marine animal behaviour. Alternatively, light data collected by animal-borne tag sensors can be used to estimate chlorophyll-a distribution. Here, we use light level and depth data to generate a phytoplankton index that matches daily seal movements. Time-depth-light recorders (TDLRs) were deployed on 89 southern elephant seals ( Mirounga leonina ) over a period of 6 years (19992005). TDLR data were used to calculate integrated light attenuation of the top 250 m of the water column ( LA 250 ), which provided an index of phytoplankton density at the daily scale that was concurrent with the movement and behaviour of seals throughout their entire foraging trip. These index values were consistent with typical seasonal chl-a patterns as measured from 8-daySea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFs) images. The availability of data recorded by the TDLRs was far greater than concurrent remotely sensed chl-a at higher latitudes and during winter months. Improving the spatial and temporal availability of phytoplankton information concurrent with animal behaviour has ecological implications for understanding the movement of deep diving predators in relation to lower trophic levels in the Southern Ocean. Light attenuation profiles recorded by animal-borne electronic tags can be used more broadly and routinely to estimate lower trophic distribution at sea in relation to deep diving predator foraging behaviour. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seals Mirounga leonina Southern Elephant Seals Southern Ocean eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Southern Ocean PLoS ONE 9 11 e113171 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental Sciences Environmental Science and Management Wildlife and Habitat Management |
spellingShingle |
Environmental Sciences Environmental Science and Management Wildlife and Habitat Management O'Toole, MD Lea, MA Guinet, C Hindell, MA Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
topic_facet |
Environmental Sciences Environmental Science and Management Wildlife and Habitat Management |
description |
The deployment of animal-borne electronic tags is revolutionizing our understanding of how pelagic species respond to their environment by providing in situ oceanographic information such as temperature, salinity, and light measurements. These tags, deployed on pelagic animals, provide data that can be used to study the ecological context of their foraging behaviour and surrounding environment. Satellite-derived measures of ocean colour reveal temporal and spatial variability of surface chlorophyll-a (a useful proxy for phytoplankton distribution). However, this information can be patchy in space and time resulting in poor correspondence with marine animal behaviour. Alternatively, light data collected by animal-borne tag sensors can be used to estimate chlorophyll-a distribution. Here, we use light level and depth data to generate a phytoplankton index that matches daily seal movements. Time-depth-light recorders (TDLRs) were deployed on 89 southern elephant seals ( Mirounga leonina ) over a period of 6 years (19992005). TDLR data were used to calculate integrated light attenuation of the top 250 m of the water column ( LA 250 ), which provided an index of phytoplankton density at the daily scale that was concurrent with the movement and behaviour of seals throughout their entire foraging trip. These index values were consistent with typical seasonal chl-a patterns as measured from 8-daySea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFs) images. The availability of data recorded by the TDLRs was far greater than concurrent remotely sensed chl-a at higher latitudes and during winter months. Improving the spatial and temporal availability of phytoplankton information concurrent with animal behaviour has ecological implications for understanding the movement of deep diving predators in relation to lower trophic levels in the Southern Ocean. Light attenuation profiles recorded by animal-borne electronic tags can be used more broadly and routinely to estimate lower trophic distribution at sea in relation to deep diving predator foraging behaviour. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
O'Toole, MD Lea, MA Guinet, C Hindell, MA |
author_facet |
O'Toole, MD Lea, MA Guinet, C Hindell, MA |
author_sort |
O'Toole, MD |
title |
Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
title_short |
Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
title_full |
Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
title_fullStr |
Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
title_full_unstemmed |
Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
title_sort |
estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25427104 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580 |
geographic |
Southern Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Southern Ocean |
genre |
Elephant Seals Mirounga leonina Southern Elephant Seals Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seals Mirounga leonina Southern Elephant Seals Southern Ocean |
op_relation |
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580/1/OToole_2014.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 O'Toole, MD and Lea, MA and Guinet, C and Hindell, MA, Estimating trans-seasonal variability in water column biomass for a highly migratory, deep diving predator, PLoS ONE, 9, (11) Article e113171. ISSN 1932-6203 (2014) [Refereed Article] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25427104 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/98580 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113171 |
container_title |
PLoS ONE |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
e113171 |
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1766401655319822336 |