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Elephant seal foraging success is enhanced in Antarctic coastal polynyas
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 05:12 authored by Arce, F, Mark HindellMark Hindell, Clive McMahonClive McMahon, Wotherspoon, SJ, Guinet, C, Harcourt, RG, Sophie BestleySophie BestleyAntarctic polynyas are persistent open water areas which enable early and large seasonal phytoplankton blooms. This high primary productivity, boosted by iron supply from coastal glaciers, attracts organisms from all trophic levels to form a rich and diverse community. How the ecological benefit of polynya productivity is translated to the highest trophic levels remains poorly resolved. We studied 119 southern elephant seals feeding over the Antarctic shelf and demonstrated that: (i) 96% of seals foraging here used polynyas, with individuals spending on average 62% of their time there; (ii) the seals exhibited more area-restricted search behaviour when in polynyas; and (iii) these seals gained more energy (indicated by increased buoyancy from greater fat stores) when inside polynyas. This higher-quality foraging existed even when ice was not present in the study area, indicating that these are important and predictable foraging grounds year-round. Despite these energetic advantages from using polynyas, not all the seals used them extensively. Factors other than food supply may influence an individual's choice in their use of feeding grounds, such as exposure to predation or the probability of being able to return to distant sub-Antarctic breeding sites.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological SciencesVolume
289Issue
1967Article number
20212452Number
20212452Pagination
1-9ISSN
0962-8452Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Royal Soc LondonPlace of publication
6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5AgRights statement
© 2022 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.Repository Status
- Restricted