Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli).
Despite the importance of fine-scale spatial use in understanding an animal's foraging, ecology, these data cannot readily be collected for free-ranging marine mammals. We used an acoustic positioning system to quantify, for the first time, the fine-scale 3-dimensional (3D) spatial use of free-...
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/76ea4223-2573-4b4d-9932-9f4cf04c4079 2024-04-28T08:02:33+00:00 Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). Hindell, MA Harcourt, R Waas, JR Thompson, David 2002 https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/finescale-threedimensional-spatial-use-by-diving-lactating-female-weddell-seals-leptonychotes-weddelli(76ea4223-2573-4b4d-9932-9f4cf04c4079).html eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/finescale-threedimensional-spatial-use-by-diving-lactating-female-weddell-seals-leptonychotes-weddelli(76ea4223-2573-4b4d-9932-9f4cf04c4079).html info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Hindell , MA , Harcourt , R , Waas , JR & Thompson , D 2002 , ' Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). ' , Marine Ecology Progress Series , vol. 242 , pp. 275-284. three-dimensional tracking acoustic tracking habitat use intra-specific competition Weddell seals SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS UNDER-ICE MOVEMENTS HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS MIROUNGA-LEONINA FORAGING ECOLOGY PHOCA-VITULINA RINGED SEALS BEHAVIOR ANTARCTICA DIET article 2002 ftunstandrewcris 2024-04-09T14:43:22Z Despite the importance of fine-scale spatial use in understanding an animal's foraging, ecology, these data cannot readily be collected for free-ranging marine mammals. We used an acoustic positioning system to quantify, for the first time, the fine-scale 3-dimensional (3D) spatial use of free-ranging Weddell seals swimming under ice. Unlike many other phocid species, lactating Weddell seals spent up to 25% of their time diving. Given the limited foraging range imposed on the seals by the fast ice upon which they breed, this could lead to prey depletion and even inter-specific competition. The seals focused their underwater activity on a relatively small region associated with a steep bottom contour, using the entire water column, with very little time spent at the bottom. This behaviour is consistent with feeding on bentho-pelagic prey such as Pleurogramma antarcticum. The 3D profile of individual dives consisted of the seals making simple, directed dives which gradually converged with the ocean floor. There was some variation from this pattern, usually associated with increased searching time. Such focused foraging activity may result in local prey depletion and intra-specific competition. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seals Leptonychotes weddelli Mirounga leonina Phoca vitulina Southern Elephant Seals Weddell Seals University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
three-dimensional tracking acoustic tracking habitat use intra-specific competition Weddell seals SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS UNDER-ICE MOVEMENTS HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS MIROUNGA-LEONINA FORAGING ECOLOGY PHOCA-VITULINA RINGED SEALS BEHAVIOR ANTARCTICA DIET |
spellingShingle |
three-dimensional tracking acoustic tracking habitat use intra-specific competition Weddell seals SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS UNDER-ICE MOVEMENTS HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS MIROUNGA-LEONINA FORAGING ECOLOGY PHOCA-VITULINA RINGED SEALS BEHAVIOR ANTARCTICA DIET Hindell, MA Harcourt, R Waas, JR Thompson, David Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
topic_facet |
three-dimensional tracking acoustic tracking habitat use intra-specific competition Weddell seals SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS UNDER-ICE MOVEMENTS HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS MIROUNGA-LEONINA FORAGING ECOLOGY PHOCA-VITULINA RINGED SEALS BEHAVIOR ANTARCTICA DIET |
description |
Despite the importance of fine-scale spatial use in understanding an animal's foraging, ecology, these data cannot readily be collected for free-ranging marine mammals. We used an acoustic positioning system to quantify, for the first time, the fine-scale 3-dimensional (3D) spatial use of free-ranging Weddell seals swimming under ice. Unlike many other phocid species, lactating Weddell seals spent up to 25% of their time diving. Given the limited foraging range imposed on the seals by the fast ice upon which they breed, this could lead to prey depletion and even inter-specific competition. The seals focused their underwater activity on a relatively small region associated with a steep bottom contour, using the entire water column, with very little time spent at the bottom. This behaviour is consistent with feeding on bentho-pelagic prey such as Pleurogramma antarcticum. The 3D profile of individual dives consisted of the seals making simple, directed dives which gradually converged with the ocean floor. There was some variation from this pattern, usually associated with increased searching time. Such focused foraging activity may result in local prey depletion and intra-specific competition. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hindell, MA Harcourt, R Waas, JR Thompson, David |
author_facet |
Hindell, MA Harcourt, R Waas, JR Thompson, David |
author_sort |
Hindell, MA |
title |
Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
title_short |
Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
title_full |
Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
title_fullStr |
Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). |
title_sort |
fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female weddell seals (leptonychotes weddelli). |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/finescale-threedimensional-spatial-use-by-diving-lactating-female-weddell-seals-leptonychotes-weddelli(76ea4223-2573-4b4d-9932-9f4cf04c4079).html |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seals Leptonychotes weddelli Mirounga leonina Phoca vitulina Southern Elephant Seals Weddell Seals |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seals Leptonychotes weddelli Mirounga leonina Phoca vitulina Southern Elephant Seals Weddell Seals |
op_source |
Hindell , MA , Harcourt , R , Waas , JR & Thompson , D 2002 , ' Fine-scale three-dimensional spatial use by diving, lactating female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). ' , Marine Ecology Progress Series , vol. 242 , pp. 275-284. |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/finescale-threedimensional-spatial-use-by-diving-lactating-female-weddell-seals-leptonychotes-weddelli(76ea4223-2573-4b4d-9932-9f4cf04c4079).html |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
_version_ |
1797573848384667648 |