scholarly journals Variation in body condition during the post-moult foraging trip of southern elephant seals and its consequences on diving behaviour

2014 ◽  
Vol 217 (14) ◽  
pp. 2609-2619 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Richard ◽  
J. Vacquie-Garcia ◽  
J. Jouma'a ◽  
B. Picard ◽  
A. Genin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals

scholarly journals Successful foraging zones of southern elephant seals from the Kerguelen Islands in relation to oceanographic conditions

2007 ◽  
Vol 362 (1487) ◽  
pp. 2169-2181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Bailleul ◽  
Jean-Benoît Charrassin ◽  
Pascal Monestiez ◽  
Fabien Roquet ◽  
Martin Biuw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Kerguelen Islands ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Antarctic Continent ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Oceanographic Conditions

Southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina , undertake large-scale oceanic movements to access favourable foraging areas. Successful foraging areas of elephant seals from the Kerguelen Islands are investigated here in relation to oceanographic parameters. Movements and diving activity of the seals as well as oceanographic data were collected through a new generation of satellite relayed devices measuring and transmitting locations, pressure, temperature and salinity. For the first time, we have associated foraging behaviour, determined by high increased sinuosity in tracks, and dive density (i.e. number of dives performed per kilometre covered), and changes in body condition, determined by variations in drift rate obtained from drift dives, to identify the oceanographic conditions of successful foraging zones for this species. Two main sectors, one close to the Antarctic continent and the other along the Polar Front (PF), where both foraging activity and body condition increase, seem to be of particular interest for the seals. Within these regions, some seals tended to focus their foraging activity on zones with particular temperature signatures. Along the Antarctic continent, some seals targeted colder waters on the sea bottom during benthic dives, while at the PF the favourable zones tended to be warmer. The possible negative effect of colder waters in Antarctic on the swimming performances of potential fish or squid prey could explain the behaviour of elephant seals in these zones, while warmer waters within the PF could correspond to the optimal conditions for potential myctophid prey of elephant seals.

scholarly journals Local weather and body condition influence habitat use and movements on land of molting female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina )

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 6081-6090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laureline L. Chaise ◽  
Iris Prinet ◽  
Camille Toscani ◽  
Susan L. Gallon ◽  
William Paterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Local Weather

Foraging strategies of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) in relation to frontal zones and water masses

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Field ◽  
Mark Hindell ◽  
David Slip ◽  
Kelvin Michael
Keyword(s):  
Dive Depth ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Mode Water ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals

Geolocating-time-depth-temperature-recorders (GLTDTR) provided a continuous record of diving behaviour in relation to water temperature for ten female southern elephant seals from Macquarie Island during their post-breeding trips to sea. Four water bodies were determined from depth/temperature profiles recorded by the GLTDTRs. These water bodies corresponded to Sub-Antarctic Mode Water (SAMW), Polar Front Zone Water (PFZW), Polar Front Water (PFW) and Antarctic Water Masses (AWM). Thermal structures within these water bodies did not influence seal diving behaviour. Overall mean dive depth, nocturnal dive depths, diurnal dive depths and dive duration were similar in all areas. However, individuals did change behaviour as they moved between different water bodies. Seals also used different water bodies in the two different years of the study. We suggest that variations in foraging behaviour among seals are a result of prey distribution associated with local oceanographic conditions, but also reflect important individual foraging strategies within thermal zones.

A comparison of techniques used to estimate body condition of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Tierney ◽  
Mark Hindell ◽  
Mary-Anne Lea ◽  
Dominic Tollit
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Tritiated Water ◽  
Bioelectrical Impedance ◽  
Impedance Analysis ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals ◽  
Comparison Of Techniques ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Condition Indices

The total body water (TBW) and body condition of 86 female southern elephant seals was estimated from tritiated water (HTO) dilution space analysis. HTO blood samples were analysed using two distillation methods (direct serum counts and evaporative freeze capture) that yielded significantly different estimates. Evaporative freeze capture is recommended for use because it is faster, cheaper, and provides a more precise TBW estimate of dilution space. Estimates of TBW were then compared with those derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and morphometric models. There were significant, positive relationships between TBW and BIA variables, but the level of accuracy was inadequate for BIA to be more useful than the other methods trialled. Morphometric models accurately estimated TBW (kg). Models developed from surface area (SA) (TBW = [SA * 82.58] – 86.94) and from a combination of mass (M), length (L), and girth (G) (TBW = [(M * 0.72) + (L * 5.49) + (G * 134.94) + 164.36)] provided the most accurate TBW estimates. In contrast, condition indices did not give accurate or reliable estimates of relative body condition.

scholarly journals Inter-population differences in diving behaviour of adult male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

Polar Biology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1759-1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. James ◽  
T. McIntyre ◽  
C. A. Tosh ◽  
H. Bornemann ◽  
J. Plötz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Population Differences ◽  
Mirounga Leonina ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals

scholarly journals The role of eddies in the diving behaviour of female southern elephant seals

Polar Biology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip P. Massie ◽  
Trevor McIntyre ◽  
Peter G. Ryan ◽  
Marthán N. Bester ◽  
Horst Bornemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals

scholarly journals Southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands confronted by Antarctic Sea ice. Changes in movements and in diving behaviour

2007 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 343-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Bailleul ◽  
Jean-Benoıˆt Charrassin ◽  
Robert Ezraty ◽  
Fanny Girard-Ardhuin ◽  
Clive R. McMahon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Kerguelen Islands ◽  
Antarctic Sea Ice ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals

Diving behaviour and foraging location of female southern elephant seals from Patagonia

1995 ◽  
Vol 236 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. CAMPAGNA ◽  
B. J. LE BOEUF ◽  
S. B. BLACKWELL ◽  
D. E. CROCKER ◽  
F. QUINTANA
Keyword(s):  
Diving Behaviour ◽  
Elephant Seals ◽  
Southern Elephant Seals
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