The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina )
Pinniped predation on commercially and ecologically important prey has been a source of conflict for centuries. In the Salish Sea, harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) are suspected of impeding the recovery of culturally and ecologically critical Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp.). In Fall 2020, a novel...
Published in: | Scientific Reports |
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2024
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Online Access: | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/the-effect-of-a-startleeliciting-device-on-the-foraging-success-of-individual-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina(9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a).html https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29282/1/McKeegan_2024_SR_effect-startle-eliciting_CC.pdf |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a 2024-09-09T20:03:31+00:00 The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) McKeegan, K. A. Clayton, Kate Williams, Rob Ashe, Erin Reiss, Stephanie Mendez-Bye, Andrea Janik, Vincent M. Götz, Thomas Zinkgraf, Matthew Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro 2024-02-14 application/pdf https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/the-effect-of-a-startleeliciting-device-on-the-foraging-success-of-individual-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina(9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a).html https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29282/1/McKeegan_2024_SR_effect-startle-eliciting_CC.pdf eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/the-effect-of-a-startleeliciting-device-on-the-foraging-success-of-individual-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina(9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a).html info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess McKeegan , K A , Clayton , K , Williams , R , Ashe , E , Reiss , S , Mendez-Bye , A , Janik , V M , Götz , T , Zinkgraf , M & Acevedo-Gutiérrez , A 2024 , ' The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) ' , Scientific Reports , vol. 14 , 3719 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w article 2024 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w 2024-07-10T23:32:29Z Pinniped predation on commercially and ecologically important prey has been a source of conflict for centuries. In the Salish Sea, harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) are suspected of impeding the recovery of culturally and ecologically critical Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp.). In Fall 2020, a novel deterrent called Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) was deployed at Whatcom Creek to deter harbor seals from preying on fall runs of hatchery chum ( O. keta ) and Chinook ( O. tshawytscha ) salmon in Bellingham, Washington, USA. Field observations were conducted in 2020 to compare the presence and foraging success of individual harbor seals across sound exposure (TAST-on) and control (TAST-off) conditions. Observations conducted the previous (2019) and following (2021) years were used to compare the effects observed in 2020 to two control years. Using photo-identification, individual seals were associated with foraging successes across all 3 years of the study. Generalized linear mixed models showed a significant 45.6% reduction in the duration (min) individuals remained at the creek with TAST on, and a significant 43.8% reduction in the overall foraging success of individuals. However, the observed effect of TAST varied across individual seals. Seals that were observed regularly within one season were more likely to return the year after, regardless of TAST treatment. Generalized linear models showed interannual variation in the number of seals present and salmon consumed. However, the effect of TAST in 2020 was greater than the observed variation across years. Our analyses suggest TAST can be an effective tool for managing pinniped predation, although alternate strategies such as deploying TAST longer-term and using multi-unit setups to increase coverage could help strengthen its effects. Future studies should further examine the individual variability found in this study. Article in Journal/Newspaper Phoca vitulina University of St Andrews: Research Portal Pacific Keta ENVELOPE(-19.455,-19.455,65.656,65.656) Scientific Reports 14 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
description |
Pinniped predation on commercially and ecologically important prey has been a source of conflict for centuries. In the Salish Sea, harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) are suspected of impeding the recovery of culturally and ecologically critical Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp.). In Fall 2020, a novel deterrent called Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) was deployed at Whatcom Creek to deter harbor seals from preying on fall runs of hatchery chum ( O. keta ) and Chinook ( O. tshawytscha ) salmon in Bellingham, Washington, USA. Field observations were conducted in 2020 to compare the presence and foraging success of individual harbor seals across sound exposure (TAST-on) and control (TAST-off) conditions. Observations conducted the previous (2019) and following (2021) years were used to compare the effects observed in 2020 to two control years. Using photo-identification, individual seals were associated with foraging successes across all 3 years of the study. Generalized linear mixed models showed a significant 45.6% reduction in the duration (min) individuals remained at the creek with TAST on, and a significant 43.8% reduction in the overall foraging success of individuals. However, the observed effect of TAST varied across individual seals. Seals that were observed regularly within one season were more likely to return the year after, regardless of TAST treatment. Generalized linear models showed interannual variation in the number of seals present and salmon consumed. However, the effect of TAST in 2020 was greater than the observed variation across years. Our analyses suggest TAST can be an effective tool for managing pinniped predation, although alternate strategies such as deploying TAST longer-term and using multi-unit setups to increase coverage could help strengthen its effects. Future studies should further examine the individual variability found in this study. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
McKeegan, K. A. Clayton, Kate Williams, Rob Ashe, Erin Reiss, Stephanie Mendez-Bye, Andrea Janik, Vincent M. Götz, Thomas Zinkgraf, Matthew Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro |
spellingShingle |
McKeegan, K. A. Clayton, Kate Williams, Rob Ashe, Erin Reiss, Stephanie Mendez-Bye, Andrea Janik, Vincent M. Götz, Thomas Zinkgraf, Matthew Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
author_facet |
McKeegan, K. A. Clayton, Kate Williams, Rob Ashe, Erin Reiss, Stephanie Mendez-Bye, Andrea Janik, Vincent M. Götz, Thomas Zinkgraf, Matthew Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro |
author_sort |
McKeegan, K. A. |
title |
The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_short |
The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_full |
The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_fullStr |
The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) |
title_sort |
effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( phoca vitulina ) |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/the-effect-of-a-startleeliciting-device-on-the-foraging-success-of-individual-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina(9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a).html https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29282/1/McKeegan_2024_SR_effect-startle-eliciting_CC.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-19.455,-19.455,65.656,65.656) |
geographic |
Pacific Keta |
geographic_facet |
Pacific Keta |
genre |
Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
McKeegan , K A , Clayton , K , Williams , R , Ashe , E , Reiss , S , Mendez-Bye , A , Janik , V M , Götz , T , Zinkgraf , M & Acevedo-Gutiérrez , A 2024 , ' The effect of a startle-eliciting device on the foraging success of individual harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) ' , Scientific Reports , vol. 14 , 3719 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/the-effect-of-a-startleeliciting-device-on-the-foraging-success-of-individual-harbor-seals-phoca-vitulina(9d556cfa-74bd-4829-a8a3-3c4326703d5a).html |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54175-w |
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Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
14 |
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1 |
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