Beneath the Antarctic sea-ice: Fine-scale analysis of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) behavior and predator-prey interactions, using micro-sonar data in Terre Adelie.

ABSTRACT: Lactation is the most energy-demanding event in mammals' reproduction. In pinnipeds, females are the only food providers to the young and have developed numerous behavioral and physiological lactation strategies, from capital-breeding to income-breeding. Lactating females' fine-scale foraging strategy, and precise understanding of how females supplement their pup's needs as well as their own are important to understand the species' ecology and energetic balance. Polar pinnipeds, inhabiting extreme environments, are sensitive to climate change and variability, understanding their constraints and foraging strategy during lactation is therefore important. In 2019, three sonar tags were deployed on lactating Weddell seals in Terre Adélie (East Antarctica) for 7 days, to study fine-scale predat

SUBMITTER: Antoine A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10714067 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature