The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator.

ABSTRACT: Predator-prey interactions in marine ecosystems are dynamically influenced by light, as demonstrated by diel vertical migrations of low-trophic level organisms. At high latitudes, the long winter nights can provide foraging opportunities for marine predators targeting vertically migrating prey closer to the surface at night. However, there is limited documentation of such diel patterns in marine predators under extreme light regimes. To address this, we recorded the diving behavior of 17 harbour porpoises just south of the Arctic circle in West Greenland, from summer to winter. Unlike classical diel vertical migration, the porpoises dove 24-37% deeper at night and the frequency of deep dives (> 100 m) increased tenfold as they entered the darkest months. The daily mean depth was negatively

SUBMITTER: Chambault P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10873309 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature