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

ABSTRACT: Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are known to move and aggregate while molting, but little is known about their behavior on land during this time. In this study, 60 adult females were monitored (23 with GPS tags) during four molting seasons, between 2012 and 2016 at Kerguelen Archipelago, Indian Ocean. Population surveys were recorded each year (N = 230 daily counts), and habitat use was analyzed in relation to the stage of the molt and local weather. Based on stage of molt, habitat use, and movements on land, we classified the molt of elephant seals into three phases: (1) a "search phase" at the initial stage of molt when grass and wallow habitats were used and characterized by greater mean distances travelled on land per day compared with the two other phases; (2)

SUBMITTER: Chaise LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6024128 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature