Distribution and diving of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Svalbard

• Main Authors: Gjertz, Ian, Wiig, Øystein, Lydersen, Christian
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2008
• Subjects: BIOTA; biology; EARTH SCIENCE; BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION; ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES; MAMMALS; CARNIVORES; SEALS/SEA LIONS/WALRUSES; BIOSPHERE; ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS; Arctic; Arctic Harbour; Jan Mayen; Norway; Prins Karls Forland; Svalbard; North Atlantic; Phoca vitulina; walrus*
• Online Access: http://data.npolar.no/dataset/eb95404c-5d7b-5110-9b6e-ed8f6dfe977e

The distribution, movements and diving of high-arctic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were studied in Svalbard, Norway, from 1992 to 1995. A total of 14 seals were equipped with satellite transmitters at Prins Karls Forland (ca. 78°30’N 12°E). These gave data on position, but ten also gave information on dive depths (N around 160,000) and dive durations (N around 162,000). The transmitters had a depth range of 0-490 m and a resolution of 2 m. The minimum depth to be considered a dive was set to 4 m. Dive depth and duration were recorded into 14 and 10 intervals respectively. Dive- depth frequencies show that around 50% of the diving is shallower than 40 m, and that 95% of the diving is shallower than 250 m. Based on dive-duration frequencies, around 50% of the dives lasted 2 to 4 min, 90% of the dives lasted less than 7 min, and 97% were shorter than 10 min. All but three seals stayed in the tagging area.