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A new method to quantify within dive foraging behaviour in marine predators
Karine Heerah1, Mark Hindell2, Christophe Guinet3
1Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques, CNRS-IRD-MNHN, Paris, France; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Plos One
|June 13, 2014
Summary
This study redefines seal dive phases, identifying distinct "hunting" and "transit" behaviors using high-resolution data. This new method offers a more accurate measure of foraging time than traditional dive phase analysis.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Animal behavior
- Bio-logging
Background:
- Classical dive studies divide seal dives into descent, bottom, and ascent phases.
- Foraging is traditionally assumed to occur only during the bottom phase of a dive.
- Modern high-resolution data necessitates a re-evaluation of dive phase complexity and foraging behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reassess traditional dive phase classifications using advanced data.
- To differentiate between "hunting" and "transit" behaviors within seal dives.
- To accurately quantify foraging time in marine mammals.
Main Methods:
- Equipped two southern elephant seals (SES) and one Weddell seal with Time-Depth Recorders (TDRs) and accelerometers.
- Utilized an automated broken stick algorithm to segment dive data into distinct behavioral phases.
- Analyzed vertical sinuosity of dive segments to classify behaviors as "hunting" (high sinuosity) or "transit" (low sinuosity).
Main Results:
- Identified an average of 6±2 (Weddell seal) and 7±0.02 (SES) behavioral phases per dive.
- Southern elephant seals (SES) exhibited 77% of prey capture attempts during "hunting" phases.
- Found significant differences between "hunting" time and traditional "bottom" time, indicating a more accurate foraging duration.
Conclusions:
- The new method provides a more accurate, fine-scale description of seal foraging behavior.
- Dive behavior is more complex than previously understood, involving multiple "hunting" and "transit" phases.
- Observed differences in hunting tactics and habitat use between southern elephant seals and Weddell seals.
