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1. Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems

Author

Hindell, Mark A, Reisinger, Ryan R, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Hückstädt, Luis A, Trathan, Philip N, Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoît, Chown, Steven L, Costa, Daniel P, Danis, Bruno, Lea, Mary-Anne, Thompson, David, Torres, Leigh G, Van de Putte, Anton P, Alderman, Rachael, Andrews-Goff, Virginia, Arthur, Ben, Ballard, Grant, Bengtson, John, Bester, Marthán N, Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Boehme, Lars, Bost, Charles-André, Boveng, Peter, Cleeland, Jaimie, Constantine, Rochelle, Corney, Stuart, Crawford, Robert JM, Dalla Rosa, Luciano, de Bruyn, PJ Nico, Delord, Karine, Descamps, Sébastien, Double, Mike, Emmerson, Louise, Fedak, Mike, Friedlaender, Ari, Gales, Nick, Goebel, Michael E, Goetz, Kimberly T, Guinet, Christophe, Goldsworthy, Simon D, Harcourt, Rob, Hinke, Jefferson T, Jerosch, Kerstin, Kato, Akiko, Kerry, Knowles R, Kirkwood, Roger, Kooyman, Gerald L, Kovacs, Kit M, Lawton, Kieran, Lowther, Andrew D, Lydersen, Christian, Lyver, Phil O’B, Makhado, Azwianewi B, Márquez, Maria EI, McDonald, Birgitte I, McMahon, Clive R, Muelbert, Monica, Nachtsheim, Dominik, Nicholls, Keith W, Nordøy, Erling S, Olmastroni, Silvia, Phillips, Richard A, Pistorius, Pierre, Plötz, Joachim, Pütz, Klemens, Ratcliffe, Norman, Ryan, Peter G, Santos, Mercedes, Southwell, Colin, Staniland, Iain, Takahashi, Akinori, Tarroux, Arnaud, Trivelpiece, Wayne, Wakefield, Ewan, Weimerskirch, Henri, Wienecke, Barbara, Xavier, José C, Wotherspoon, Simon, Jonsen, Ian D, and Raymond, Ben

Subjects
Life Below Water, Climate Action, Animal Identification Systems, Animals, Antarctic Regions, Aquatic Organisms, Biodiversity, Birds, Climate Change, Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecosystem, Fishes, Food Chain, Ice Cover, Mammals, Oceans and Seas, Population Dynamics, Predatory Behavior, General Science & Technology
Abstract

Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change1,2. Mitigation requires the identification and protection of Areas of Ecological Significance (AESs), which have so far not been determined at the ocean-basin scale. Here, using assemblage-level tracking of marine predators, we identify AESs for this globally important region and assess current threats and protection levels. Integration of more than 4,000 tracks from 17 bird and mammal species reveals AESs around sub-Antarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and over the Antarctic continental shelf. Fishing pressure is disproportionately concentrated inside AESs, and climate change over the next century is predicted to impose pressure on these areas, particularly around the Antarctic continent. At present, 7.1% of the ocean south of 40°S is under formal protection, including 29% of the total AESs. The establishment and regular revision of networks of protection that encompass AESs are needed to provide long-term mitigation of growing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Published
2020

2. The retrospective analysis of Antarctic tracking data project.

Author

Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Van de Putte, Anton P, Reisinger, Ryan R, Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoît, Costa, Daniel P, Danis, Bruno, Hückstädt, Luis A, Jonsen, Ian D, Lea, Mary-Anne, Thompson, David, Torres, Leigh G, Trathan, Philip N, Wotherspoon, Simon, Ainley, David G, Alderman, Rachael, Andrews-Goff, Virginia, Arthur, Ben, Ballard, Grant, Bengtson, John, Bester, Marthán N, Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Boehme, Lars, Bost, Charles-André, Boveng, Peter, Cleeland, Jaimie, Constantine, Rochelle, Crawford, Robert JM, Dalla Rosa, Luciano, Nico de Bruyn, PJ, Delord, Karine, Descamps, Sébastien, Double, Mike, Emmerson, Louise, Fedak, Mike, Friedlaender, Ari, Gales, Nick, Goebel, Mike, Goetz, Kimberly T, Guinet, Christophe, Goldsworthy, Simon D, Harcourt, Rob, Hinke, Jefferson T, Jerosch, Kerstin, Kato, Akiko, Kerry, Knowles R, Kirkwood, Roger, Kooyman, Gerald L, Kovacs, Kit M, Lawton, Kieran, Lowther, Andrew D, Lydersen, Christian, Lyver, Phil O'B, Makhado, Azwianewi B, Márquez, Maria EI, McDonald, Birgitte I, McMahon, Clive R, Muelbert, Monica, Nachtsheim, Dominik, Nicholls, Keith W, Nordøy, Erling S, Olmastroni, Silvia, Phillips, Richard A, Pistorius, Pierre, Plötz, Joachim, Pütz, Klemens, Ratcliffe, Norman, Ryan, Peter G, Santos, Mercedes, Southwell, Colin, Staniland, Iain, Takahashi, Akinori, Tarroux, Arnaud, Trivelpiece, Wayne, Wakefield, Ewan, Weimerskirch, Henri, Wienecke, Barbara, Xavier, José C, Raymond, Ben, and Hindell, Mark A

Abstract

The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data (RAATD) is a Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research project led jointly by the Expert Groups on Birds and Marine Mammals and Antarctic Biodiversity Informatics, and endorsed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. RAATD consolidated tracking data for multiple species of Antarctic meso- and top-predators to identify Areas of Ecological Significance. These datasets and accompanying syntheses provide a greater understanding of fundamental ecosystem processes in the Southern Ocean, support modelling of predator distributions under future climate scenarios and create inputs that can be incorporated into decision making processes by management authorities. In this data paper, we present the compiled tracking data from research groups that have worked in the Antarctic since the 1990s. The data are publicly available through biodiversity.aq and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The archive includes tracking data from over 70 contributors across 12 national Antarctic programs, and includes data from 17 predator species, 4060 individual animals, and over 2.9 million observed locations.

Published
2020

6. Marine Mammals Exploring the Oceans Pole to Pole : A Review of the MEOP Consortium

Author

Treasure, Anne M., Roquet, Fabien, Ansorge, Isabelle J., Bester, Marthán N., Boehme, Lars, Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoit, Chevallier, Damien, Costa, Daniel P., Fedak, Mike A., Guinet, Christophe, Hammill, Mike O., Harcourt, Robert G., Hindell, Mark A., Kovacs, Kit M., Lea, Mary-Anne, Lovell, Phil, Lowther, Andrew D., Lydersen, Christian, McIntyre, Trevor, McMahon, Clive R., Muelbert, Mônica M.C., Nicholls, Keith, Picard, Baptiste, Reverdin, Gilles, Trites, Andrew W., Williams, Guy D., and de Bruyn, P.J. Nico

Published
2017

8. Contributors

Author

Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro, primary, Adam, Peter J., additional, Aguilar, Alex, additional, Amano, Masao, additional, Anderson, Paul K., additional, Archer, Frederick I., additional, Arnould, John P.Y., additional, Atkinson, Shannon, additional, Au, Whitlow W.L., additional, Aurioles-Gamboa, David, additional, Javier Aznar, F., additional, Baird, Robin W., additional, Baker, C. Scott, additional, Ballance, Lisa T., additional, Balbuena, Juan A., additional, Bannister, John L., additional, Barlow, Jay, additional, Barton, Sheri L., additional, Bearzi, Giovanni, additional, Beasley, Isabel, additional, Bekoff, Marc, additional, Ben-David, M., additional, Bengtson, John L., additional, Berta, Annalisa, additional, Bérubé, Martine, additional, Bester, Marthán N., additional, Bianucci, Giovanni, additional, Bjørge, Arne, additional, Black, Nancy A., additional, Bodkin, J.L., additional, Bonde, Robert K., additional, Borger, Jill, additional, Borrell, Asuncion, additional, Boveng, Peter, additional, Bowen, W.D., additional, Boyd, Ian L., additional, Braulik, Gillian T., additional, Brown, Alexander M., additional, Brownell, Robert L., additional, Buckland, Stephen T., additional, Burns, John J., additional, Cabrera, Andrea A., additional, Campagna, Claudio, additional, Cantor, Mauricio, additional, Cárdenas-Alayza, Susana, additional, Cárdenas-Hinojosa, Gustavo, additional, Castellini, Michael, additional, Cerchio, Salvatore, additional, Champagne, Cory D., additional, Chilvers, B. Louise, additional, Chivers, Susan J., additional, Cipriano, Frank, additional, Clapham, Phillip J., additional, Constantine, Rochelle, additional, Cooper, Lisa N., additional, Corkeron, Peter, additional, Costa, Daniel P., additional, Costidis, Alexander M., additional, Cowan, Daniel F., additional, Cranford, Ted, additional, Crespo, Enrique A., additional, Crocker, Daniel E., additional, Croll, Donald A., additional, da Silva, Vera M.F., additional, Danil, Kerri, additional, Darling, Jim, additional, Dawson, Stephen M., additional, de Muizon, Christian, additional, de Vos, Asha, additional, Dehnhardt, Guido, additional, DeMaster, Douglas P., additional, Deméré, Thomas A., additional, Dendrinos, Panagiotis, additional, Dill, Lawrence M., additional, Dizon, Andrew E., additional, L. Dolar, M. Louella, additional, Domning, Daryl P., additional, Donovan, G.P., additional, Dudzinski, Kathleen M., additional, Duffield, Deborah A., additional, Dyer, Michael P., additional, Ellis, Richard, additional, Eskelinen, Holli, additional, Estes, James A., additional, Evans, Peter G.H., additional, Fernández, Mercedes, additional, Fertl, Dagmar, additional, Fettuccia, Daniela de Castro, additional, Fiedler, Paul C., additional, Fish, Frank E., additional, Flores, Paulo A.C., additional, Forcada, Jaume, additional, Ford, John K.B., additional, Fordyce, R. Ewan, additional, Forestell, Paul H., additional, Forney, Karin A., additional, Fowler, Charles W., additional, Frankel, Adam S., additional, Friedlaender, Ari S., additional, Frohoff, Toni, additional, Frost, Kathryn J., additional, Galatius, Anders, additional, García-Vernet, Raquel, additional, Geisler, Jonathan H., additional, Gelatt, Thomas S., additional, Gentry, Roger, additional, George, J. Craig, additional, Gerrodette, Tim, additional, Goldbogen, Jeremy A., additional, Goldsworthy, Simon D., additional, P. Goodall, R. Natalie, additional, Goodman, Simon J., additional, Gregg, Justin D., additional, Hall, Ailsa J., additional, Hammill, Mike O., additional, Hammond, Philip S., additional, Hanke, Frederike D., additional, Hartman, Karin L., additional, Hazen, Elliott, additional, Heide-Jørgensen, M.P., additional, Heithaus, Michael R., additional, Herman, Louis M., additional, Herzing, Denise L., additional, Hewitt, Roger P., additional, Hindell, Mark A., additional, Hoelzel, A. Rus, additional, Hofmeyr, G. J. Greg, additional, Hohn, Aleta A., additional, Hooker, Sascha K., additional, Horstmann, Lara, additional, Horwood, Joseph, additional, Hoyt, Erich, additional, Hückstädt, Luis A., additional, Ivashchenko, Yulia V., additional, Iverson, Sara J., additional, Janik, Vincent M., additional, Jaramillo-Legorreta, Armando M., additional, Jefferson, Thomas A., additional, Jensen, Anne M., additional, Karamanlidis, Alexandros A., additional, Kasuya, Toshio, additional, Kato, Hidehiro, additional, Keith Diagne, Lucy W., additional, Kemp, Christopher, additional, Kemper, Catherine M., additional, Kenney, Robert D., additional, Kinze, Carl C., additional, Kirkman, Stephen P., additional, Kiszka, Jeremy J., additional, Koopman, Heather N., additional, Kooyman, Gerald L., additional, Kovacs, Kit M., additional, Kraus, Scott D., additional, Krysl, Petr, additional, Laidre, Kristin L., additional, Laitman, Jeffrey T., additional, Lambert, Olivier, additional, Landry, André M., additional, Lavigne, David M., additional, LeDuc, Rick, additional, Lipsky, Jessica D., additional, Littnan, Charles, additional, Loughlin, Thomas R., additional, Lowry, Lloyd, additional, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, Lydersen, Christian, additional, Maas, Mary C., additional, MacLean, Stephen A., additional, MacLeod, Colin D., additional, Mallette, Sarah D., additional, Mann, Janet, additional, Maresh, Jennifer L., additional, Marsh, Helene, additional, Marshall, Christopher D., additional, Martin, Anthony R., additional, Mass, Alla M., additional, McAlpine, Donald F., additional, Chris McKnight, J., additional, McLellan, William A., additional, Mead, James G., additional, Melin, Sharon R., additional, Merrick, Richard, additional, Mesnick, Sarah L., additional, Miller, Edward H., additional, Miller, Lance J., additional, Miller, Patrick J.O., additional, Miyazaki, Nobuyuki, additional, Moore, Jeffrey E., additional, Moore, Kathleen M., additional, Moore, Michael, additional, Moore, Sue E., additional, Moors-Murphy, Hilary B., additional, Morin, Phillip A., additional, Newman, William A., additional, Newton, Kelly M., additional, Nieto-García, Edwyna, additional, Northridge, Simon, additional, Nummela, Sirpa, additional, O'Brien, Justine K., additional, O'Corry-Crowe, Gregory M., additional, Olsen, Morten T., additional, Olson, Paula A., additional, Oppenheimer, Jonas, additional, Orbach, Dara N., additional, Ortiz, Rudy M., additional, Pabst, D. Ann, additional, Palsbøll, Per J., additional, Parra, Guido J., additional, Patterson, Eric, additional, Paves-Hernández, Héctor, additional, Perrin, William F., additional, Perryman, Wayne L., additional, Pitman, Robert, additional, Pomeroy, Patrick P., additional, Ponganis, Paul J., additional, Powell, James A., additional, Pyenson, Nicholas D., additional, Racicot, Rachel, additional, Raga, J. Antonio, additional, Ralls, Katherine, additional, Raverty, Stephen, additional, Read, Andrew J., additional, Reeves, Randall R., additional, Regehr, Eric V., additional, Reggente, Melissa A.L., additional, Reidenberg, Joy S., additional, Reijnders, Peter J.H., additional, Reyes, Julio C., additional, Reynolds, John E., additional, Robeck, Todd R., additional, Robinson, Kelly J., additional, Rode, Karyn, additional, Rogers, Tracey, additional, Rojas-Bracho, Lorenzo, additional, Roman, Joe, additional, Rommel, Sentiel A., additional, Roos, Marjoleine M.H., additional, Rosel, Patricia E., additional, Rowntree, Victoria J., additional, Rugh, David, additional, Russell, Debbie J.F., additional, Sayigh, Laela S., additional, Scolardi, Kerri M., additional, Scott, Michael D., additional, Sears, Richard, additional, Seger, Jon, additional, Sharp, Sarah, additional, Sheehan, Glenn W., additional, Silber, Gregory K., additional, Simeone, Claire A., additional, Smith, Brian D., additional, Southall, Brandon L., additional, Spitz, Jérôme, additional, Spoor, Fred, additional, Stacey, Rita, additional, Staniland, Iain J., additional, Steel, Debbie, additional, Stern, S. Jonathan, additional, Stewart, Brent S., additional, Supin, Alexander Y., additional, Suydam, R., additional, Swartz, Steven L., additional, Teilmann, Jonas, additional, Tershy, Bernie R., additional, Thewissen, J.G.M., additional, Tinker, M.T., additional, Tolley, Krystal A., additional, Trillmich, Fritz, additional, Trites, Andrew W., additional, Turner, Ted, additional, Twiss, Sean D., additional, Tyack, Peter L., additional, Uhen, Mark D., additional, Van Franeker, Jan A., additional, Van Waerebeek, Koen, additional, Wade, Paul R., additional, Wang, John Y., additional, Weller, David W., additional, Wells, Randall S., additional, Werth, Alexander J., additional, Whitehead, Hal, additional, Williams, Terrie M., additional, Würsig, Bernd, additional, Yablokov, Alexey V., additional, Yamada, Tadasu K., additional, Yamato, Maya, additional, Yochem, Pamela K., additional, York, Anne E., additional, and Zhou, Kaiya, additional

Published
2018
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16. Assessment of Australian Sea Lion Bycatch Mortality in a Gillnet Fishery, and Implementation and Evaluation of an Effective Mitigation Strategy

Author

Goldsworthy, Simon D., primary, Page, Brad, additional, Hamer, Derek J., additional, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, Shaughnessy, Peter D., additional, Hindell, Mark A., additional, Burch, Paul, additional, Costa, Daniel P., additional, Fowler, Shannon L., additional, Peters, Kristian, additional, McIntosh, Rebecca R., additional, Bailleul, Frederic, additional, Mackay, Alice I., additional, Kirkwood, Roger, additional, Holman, Dirk, additional, and Bryars, Simon, additional

Published
2022
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18. 50,000 years of ice and seals: Impacts of the Last Glacial Maximum on Antarctic fur seals

Author

Cleary, Alison C., Hoffman, Joseph I., Forcada, Jaume, Lydersen, Christian, Lowther, Andrew D., Kovacs, Kit M., Cleary, Alison C., Hoffman, Joseph I., Forcada, Jaume, Lydersen, Christian, Lowther, Andrew D., and Kovacs, Kit M.

Abstract

Ice is one of the most important drivers of population dynamics in polar organisms, influencing the locations, sizes, and connectivity of populations. Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, are particularly interesting in this regard, as they are concomitantly reliant on both ice-associated prey and ice-free coastal breeding areas. We reconstructed the history of this species through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) using genomic sequence data from seals across their range. Population size trends and divergence events were investigated using continuous-time size estimation analysis and divergence time estimation models. The combined results indicated that a panmictic population present prior to the LGM split into two small refugial populations during peak ice extent. Following ice decline, the western refugial population founded colonies at the South Shetlands, South Georgia, and Bouvetøya, while the eastern refugial population founded the colony on Iles Kerguelen. Postglacial population divergence times closely match geological estimates of when these coastal breeding areas became ice free. Given the predictions regarding continued future warming in polar oceans, these responses of Antarctic fur seals to past climate variation suggest it may be worthwhile giving conservation consideration to potential future breeding locations, such as areas further south along the Antarctic Peninsula, in addition to present colony areas.

Published
2021

20. Marine ecosystem assessment for the Southern Ocean: birds and marine mammals in a changing climate

Author

Bestley, Sophie, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Bengtson Nash, Susan, Brooks, Cassandra M., Cotté, Cédric, Dewar, Meagan, Friedlaender, Ari S., Jackson, Jennifer A., Labrousse, Sara, Lowther, Andrew D., McMahon, Clive R., Phillips, Richard A., Pistorius, Pierre, Puskic, Peter S., Reis, Ana Olivia de A., Reisinger, Ryan R., Santos, Mercedes, Tarszisz, Esther, Tixier, Paul, Trathan, Philip N., Wege, Mia, and Wienecke, Barbara

Abstract

The massive number of seabirds (penguins and procellariiformes) and marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) – referred to here as top predators – is one of the most iconic components of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They play an important role as highly mobile consumers, structuring and connecting pelagic marine food webs and are widely studied relative to other taxa. Many birds and mammals establish dense breeding colonies or use haul-out sites, making them relatively easy to study. Cetaceans, however, spend their lives at sea and thus aspects of their life cycle are more complicated to monitor and study. Nevertheless, they all feed at sea and their reproductive success depends on the food availability in the marine environment, hence they are considered useful indicators of the state of the marine resources. In general, top predators have large body sizes that allow for instrumentation with miniature data-recording or transmitting devices to monitor their activities at sea. Development of scientific techniques to study reproduction and foraging of top predators has led to substantial scientific literature on their population trends, key biological parameters, migratory patterns, foraging and feeding ecology, and linkages with atmospheric or oceanographic dynamics, for a number of species and regions. We briefly summarize the vast literature on Southern Ocean top predators, focusing on the most recent syntheses. We also provide an overview on the key current and emerging pressures faced by these animals as a result of both natural and human causes. We recognize the overarching impact that environmental changes driven by climate change have on the ecology of these species. We also evaluate direct and indirect interactions between marine predators and other factors such as disease, pollution, land disturbance and the increasing pressure from global fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Where possible we consider the data availability for assessing the status and trends for each of these components, their capacity for resilience or recovery, effectiveness of management responses, risk likelihood of key impacts and future outlook.

Published
2020

21. The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

Author

Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Van de Putte, Anton P., Reisinger, Ryan R., Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoît, Costa, Daniel P., Danis, Bruno, Hückstädt, Luis A., Jonsen, Ian D., Lea, Mary-Anne, Thompson, David, Torres, Leigh G., Trathan, Philip N., Wotherspoon, Simon, Ainley, David G., Alderman, Rachael, Andrews-Goff, Virginia, Arthur, Ben, Ballard, Grant, Bengtson, John, Bester, Marthán N., Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Boehme, Lars, Bost, Charles-André, Boveng, Peter, Cleeland, Jaimie, Constantine, Rochelle, Crawford, Robert J. M., Dalla Rosa, Luciano, Nico de Bruyn, P. J., Delord, Karine, Descamps, Sébastien, Double, Mike, Emmerson, Louise, Fedak, Mike, Friedlaender, Ari, Gales, Nick, Goebel, Mike, Goetz, Kimberly T., Guinet, Christophe, Goldsworthy, Simon D., Harcourt, Rob, Hinke, Jefferson T., Jerosch, Kerstin, Kato, Akiko, Kerry, Knowles R., Kirkwood, Roger, Kooyman, Gerald L., Kovacs, Kit M., Lawton, Kieran, Lowther, Andrew D., Lydersen, Christian, Lyver, Phil O’B., Makhado, Azwianewi B., Márquez, Maria E. I., McDonald, Birgitte I., McMahon, Clive R., Muelbert, Monica, Nachtsheim, Dominik, Nicholls, Keith W., Nordøy, Erling S., Olmastroni, Silvia, Phillips, Richard A., Pistorius, Pierre, Plötz, Joachim, Pütz, Klemens, Ratcliffe, Norman, Ryan, Peter G., Santos, Mercedes, Southwell, Colin, Staniland, Iain, Takahashi, Akinori, Tarroux, Arnaud, Trivelpiece, Wayne, Wakefield, Ewan, Weimerskirch, Henri, Wienecke, Barbara, Xavier, José C., Raymond, Ben, Hindell, Mark A., NERC, University of St Andrews. School of Biology, University of St Andrews. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Institute, and University of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotland

Subjects
Statistics and Probability, GC, QH301 Biology, NERC, DAS, Library and Information Sciences, Computer Science Applications, Education, QH301, SDG 13 - Climate Action, GC Oceanography, QA Mathematics, SDG 14 - Life Below Water, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, QA, Information Systems
Abstract

The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data (RAATD) is a Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research project led jointly by the Expert Groups on Birds and Marine Mammals and Antarctic Biodiversity Informatics, and endorsed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. RAATD consolidated tracking data for multiple species of Antarctic meso- and top-predators to identify Areas of Ecological Significance. These datasets and accompanying syntheses provide a greater understanding of fundamental ecosystem processes in the Southern Ocean, support modelling of predator distributions under future climate scenarios and create inputs that can be incorporated into decision making processes by management authorities. In this data paper, we present the compiled tracking data from research groups that have worked in the Antarctic since the 1990s. The data are publicly available through biodiversity.aq and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The archive includes tracking data from over 70 contributors across 12 national Antarctic programs, and includes data from 17 predator species, 4060 individual animals, and over 2.9 million observed locations. Publisher PDF

Published
2020

22. Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems

Author

Hindell, Mark A., Reisinger, Ryan R., Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Hückstädt, Luis A., Trathan, Philip N., Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoît, Chown, Steven L., Costa, Daniel P., Danis, Bruno, Lea, Mary-Anne, Thompson, David, Torres, Leigh G., Van de Putte, Anton P., Alderman, Rachael, Andrews-Goff, Virginia, Arthur, Ben, Ballard, Grant, Bengtson, John, Bester, Marthán N., Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Boehme, Lars, Bost, Charles-André, Boveng, Peter, Cleeland, Jaimie, Constantine, Rochelle, Corney, Stuart, Crawford, Robert J. M., Dalla Rosa, Luciano, de Bruyn, P. J. Nico, Delord, Karine, Descamps, Sébastien, Double, Mike, Emmerson, Louise, Fedak, Mike, Friedlaender, Ari, Gales, Nick, Goebel, Michael E., Goetz, Kimberly T., Guinet, Christophe, Goldsworthy, Simon D., Harcourt, Rob, Hinke, Jefferson T., Jerosch, Kerstin, Kato, Akiko, Kerry, Knowles R., Kirkwood, Roger, Kooyman, Gerald L., Kovacs, Kit M., Lawton, Kieran, Lowther, Andrew D., Lydersen, Christian, Lyver, Phil O’B., Makhado, Azwianewi B., Márquez, Maria E. I., McDonald, Birgitte I., McMahon, Clive R., Muelbert, Monica, Nachtsheim, Dominik, Nicholls, Keith W., Nordøy, Erling S., Olmastroni, Silvia, Phillips, Richard A., Pistorius, Pierre, Plötz, Joachim, Pütz, Klemens, Ratcliffe, Norman, Ryan, Peter G., Santos, Mercedes, Southwell, Colin, Staniland, Iain, Takahashi, Akinori, Tarroux, Arnaud, Trivelpiece, Wayne, Wakefield, Ewan, Weimerskirch, Henri, Wienecke, Barbara, Xavier, José C., Wotherspoon, Simon, Jonsen, Ian D., Raymond, Ben, Hindell, Mark A., Reisinger, Ryan R., Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Hückstädt, Luis A., Trathan, Philip N., Bornemann, Horst, Charrassin, Jean-Benoît, Chown, Steven L., Costa, Daniel P., Danis, Bruno, Lea, Mary-Anne, Thompson, David, Torres, Leigh G., Van de Putte, Anton P., Alderman, Rachael, Andrews-Goff, Virginia, Arthur, Ben, Ballard, Grant, Bengtson, John, Bester, Marthán N., Blix, Arnoldus Schytte, Boehme, Lars, Bost, Charles-André, Boveng, Peter, Cleeland, Jaimie, Constantine, Rochelle, Corney, Stuart, Crawford, Robert J. M., Dalla Rosa, Luciano, de Bruyn, P. J. Nico, Delord, Karine, Descamps, Sébastien, Double, Mike, Emmerson, Louise, Fedak, Mike, Friedlaender, Ari, Gales, Nick, Goebel, Michael E., Goetz, Kimberly T., Guinet, Christophe, Goldsworthy, Simon D., Harcourt, Rob, Hinke, Jefferson T., Jerosch, Kerstin, Kato, Akiko, Kerry, Knowles R., Kirkwood, Roger, Kooyman, Gerald L., Kovacs, Kit M., Lawton, Kieran, Lowther, Andrew D., Lydersen, Christian, Lyver, Phil O’B., Makhado, Azwianewi B., Márquez, Maria E. I., McDonald, Birgitte I., McMahon, Clive R., Muelbert, Monica, Nachtsheim, Dominik, Nicholls, Keith W., Nordøy, Erling S., Olmastroni, Silvia, Phillips, Richard A., Pistorius, Pierre, Plötz, Joachim, Pütz, Klemens, Ratcliffe, Norman, Ryan, Peter G., Santos, Mercedes, Southwell, Colin, Staniland, Iain, Takahashi, Akinori, Tarroux, Arnaud, Trivelpiece, Wayne, Wakefield, Ewan, Weimerskirch, Henri, Wienecke, Barbara, Xavier, José C., Wotherspoon, Simon, Jonsen, Ian D., and Raymond, Ben

Abstract

Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change. Mitigation requires the identification and protection of Areas of Ecological Significance (AESs), which have so far not been determined at the ocean-basin scale. Here, using assemblage-level tracking of marine predators, we identify AESs for this globally important region and assess current threats and protection levels. Integration of more than 4,000 tracks from 17 bird and mammal species reveals AESs around sub- Antarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and over the Antarctic continental shelf. Fishing pressure is disproportionately concentrated inside AESs, and climate change over the next century is predicted to impose pressure on these areas, particularly around the Antarctic continent. At present, 7.1% of the ocean south of 40°S is under formal protection, including 29% of the total AESs. The establishment and regular revision of networks of protection that encompass AESs are needed to provide long-term mitigation of growing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Published
2020

24. Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean: Birds and Marine Mammals in a Changing Climate

Author

Bestley, Sophie, primary, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, additional, Bengtson Nash, Susan, additional, Brooks, Cassandra M., additional, Cotté, Cédric, additional, Dewar, Meagan, additional, Friedlaender, Ari S., additional, Jackson, Jennifer A., additional, Labrousse, Sara, additional, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, McMahon, Clive R., additional, Phillips, Richard A., additional, Pistorius, Pierre, additional, Puskic, Peter S., additional, Reis, Ana Olivia de A., additional, Reisinger, Ryan R., additional, Santos, Mercedes, additional, Tarszisz, Esther, additional, Tixier, Paul, additional, Trathan, Philip N., additional, Wege, Mia, additional, and Wienecke, Barbara, additional

Published
2020
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25. The relationship between coastal weather and foraging behaviour of chinstrap penguins, Pygoscelis antarctica

Author

Lowther, Andrew D., Trathan, Phil, Tarroux, Arnaud, Lydersen, Christian, Kovacs, Kit M., Lowther, Andrew D., Trathan, Phil, Tarroux, Arnaud, Lydersen, Christian, and Kovacs, Kit M.

Abstract

There is increasing interest in using higher-trophic level predators as ecosystem indicators because their performance is presumed to be linked to the overall function of the ecosystem that supports them. In the southwest Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) supports huge predator populations as well as a growing commercial fishery. To utilize information from the ecosystem in an adaptive framework for sustainably managing krill catch levels, performance indices of krill predators have been proposed as a proxy for krill abundance. However, there are several potentially confounding sources of variability that might impact predator performance such as the effects of environmental variability and fishing pressure on krill availability at scales relevant to predators. In this context, our study capitalises on the occurrence of an unexpected El Niño event to characterise how environmental variability can drive changes in predator foraging behaviour. We demonstrate a clear link between coastal downwelling and changes in the at-sea habitat usage of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) foraging in a local krill fishing area. Penguins tracked from their breeding colonies on Powell Island, Antarctic Peninsula, undertook fewer, longer foraging trips during the downwelling-affected season compared with the season where no such downwelling was detected, suggesting that changes in climate-driven oceanography may have reduced krill availability along the northern shelf of the island. Our study demonstrates that penguin foraging behaviour is modified by scale-dependent processes, which if not accounted for may result in erroneous conclusions being drawn when using penguins as bioindicators of krill abundance.

Published
2018

26. Convergence of marine megafauna movement patterns in coastal and open oceans

Author

Sequeira, Ana M. M., Rodríguez, Jorge P., Eguíluz, Víctor M., Harcourt, Robert, Hindell, Mark, Sims, David W., Duarte, Carlos M., Costa, Daniel P., Fernández-Gracia, Juan, Ferreira, Luciana C., Hays, Graeme, Heupel, Michelle R., Meekan, Mark G., Aven, Allen, Bailleul, Frédéric, Baylis, Alastair M. M., Berumen, Michael L., Braun, Camrin D., Burns, Jennifer, Caley, M. Julian, Campbell, R., Carmichael, Ruth H., Clua, Eric, Einoder, Luke D., Friedlaender, Ari S., Goebel, Michael E., Goldsworthy, Simon D., Guinet, Christophe, Gunn, John, Hamer, D., Hammerschlag, Neil, Hammill, Mike O., Hückstädt, Luis A., Humphries, Nicolas E., Lea, Mary-Anne, Lowther, Andrew D., Mackay, Alice, McHuron, Elizabeth, McKenzie, J., McLeay, Lachlan, McMahon, Cathy R., Mengersen, Kerrie, Muelbert, Monica M. C., Pagano, Anthony M., Page, B., Queiroz, N., Robinson, Patrick W., Shaffer, Scott A., Shivji, Mahmood, Skomal, Gregory B., Thorrold, Simon R., Villegas-Amtmann, Stella, Weise, Michael, Wells, Randall S., Wetherbee, Bradley M., Wiebkin, A., Wienecke, Barbara, Thums, Michele, Sequeira, Ana M. M., Rodríguez, Jorge P., Eguíluz, Víctor M., Harcourt, Robert, Hindell, Mark, Sims, David W., Duarte, Carlos M., Costa, Daniel P., Fernández-Gracia, Juan, Ferreira, Luciana C., Hays, Graeme, Heupel, Michelle R., Meekan, Mark G., Aven, Allen, Bailleul, Frédéric, Baylis, Alastair M. M., Berumen, Michael L., Braun, Camrin D., Burns, Jennifer, Caley, M. Julian, Campbell, R., Carmichael, Ruth H., Clua, Eric, Einoder, Luke D., Friedlaender, Ari S., Goebel, Michael E., Goldsworthy, Simon D., Guinet, Christophe, Gunn, John, Hamer, D., Hammerschlag, Neil, Hammill, Mike O., Hückstädt, Luis A., Humphries, Nicolas E., Lea, Mary-Anne, Lowther, Andrew D., Mackay, Alice, McHuron, Elizabeth, McKenzie, J., McLeay, Lachlan, McMahon, Cathy R., Mengersen, Kerrie, Muelbert, Monica M. C., Pagano, Anthony M., Page, B., Queiroz, N., Robinson, Patrick W., Shaffer, Scott A., Shivji, Mahmood, Skomal, Gregory B., Thorrold, Simon R., Villegas-Amtmann, Stella, Weise, Michael, Wells, Randall S., Wetherbee, Bradley M., Wiebkin, A., Wienecke, Barbara, and Thums, Michele

Abstract

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2017. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115 (2018): 3072-3077, doi:10.1073/pnas.1716137115., The extent of increasing anthropogenic impacts on large marine vertebrates partly depends on the animals’ movement patterns. Effective conservation requires identification of the key drivers of movement including intrinsic properties and extrinsic constraints associated with the dynamic nature of the environments the animals inhabit. However, the relative importance of intrinsic versus extrinsic factors remains elusive. We analyse a global dataset of 2.8 million locations from > 2,600 tracked individuals across 50 marine vertebrates evolutionarily separated by millions of years and using different locomotion modes (fly, swim, walk/paddle). Strikingly, movement patterns show a remarkable convergence, being strongly conserved across species and independent of body length and mass, despite these traits ranging over 10 orders of magnitude among the species studied. This represents a fundamental difference between marine and terrestrial vertebrates not previously identified, likely linked to the reduced costs of locomotion in water. Movement patterns were primarily explained by the interaction between species-specific traits and the habitat(s) they move through, resulting in complex movement patterns when moving close to coasts compared to more predictable patterns when moving in open oceans. This distinct difference may be associated with greater complexity within coastal micro-habitats, highlighting a critical role of preferred habitat in shaping marine vertebrate global movements. Efforts to develop understanding of the characteristics of vertebrate movement should consider the habitat(s) through which they move to identify how movement patterns will alter with forecasted severe ocean changes, such as reduced Arctic sea ice cover, sea level rise and declining oxygen content., Workshops funding granted by the UWA Oceans Institute, AIMS, and KAUST. AMMS was supported by an ARC Grant DE170100841 and an IOMRC (UWA, AIMS, CSIRO) fellowship; JPR by MEDC (FPU program, Spain); DWS by UK NERC and Save Our Seas Foundation; NQ by FCT (Portugal); MMCM by a CAPES fellowship (Ministry of Education).

Published
2018

27. Chinstrap penguin population genetic structure: one or more populations along the southern ocean?

Author

Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Instituto Antártico Chileno, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (Chile), Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Chile), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Argentina), Mura-Jornet, Isidora, Pimentel, Carolina, Dantas, Gisele P.M., Petry, Maria V., González-Acuña, Daniel, Barbosa, Andrés, Lowther, Andrew D., Kovacs, Kit M., Poulin, Elie, Vianna, Juliana A., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Instituto Antártico Chileno, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (Chile), Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Chile), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Argentina), Mura-Jornet, Isidora, Pimentel, Carolina, Dantas, Gisele P.M., Petry, Maria V., González-Acuña, Daniel, Barbosa, Andrés, Lowther, Andrew D., Kovacs, Kit M., Poulin, Elie, and Vianna, Juliana A.

Abstract

[Background] Historical factors, demography, reproduction and dispersal are crucial in determining the genetic structure of seabirds. In the Antarctic marine environment, penguins are a major component of the avian biomass, dominant predators and important bioindicators of ecological change. Populations of chinstrap penguins have decreased in nearly all their breeding sites, and their range is expanding throughout the Antarctic Peninsula. Population genetic structure of this species has been studied in some colonies, but not between breeding colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula or at the species’ easternmost breeding colony (Bouvetøya)., [Results] Connectivity, sex-biased dispersal, diversity, genetic structure and demographic history were studied using 12 microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial DNA region (HVRI) in 12 breeding colonies in the South Shetland Islands (SSI) and the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), and one previously unstudied sub-Antarctic island, 3600 km away from the WAP (Bouvetøya). High genetic diversity, evidence of female bias-dispersal and a sign of population expansion after the last glacial maximum around 10,000 mya were detected. Limited population genetic structure and lack of isolation by distance throughout the region were found, along with no differentiation between the WAP and Bouvetøya (overall microsatellite FST = 0.002, p = 0.273; mtDNA FST = − 0.004, p = 0.766), indicating long distance dispersal. Therefore, genetic assignment tests could not assign individuals to their population(s) of origin. The most differentiated location was Georges Point, one of the southernmost breeding colonies of this species in the WAP., [Conclusions] The subtle differentiation found may be explained by some combination of low natal philopatric behavior, high rates of dispersal and/or generally high mobility among colonies of chinstrap penguins compared to other Pygoscelis species.

Published
2018

28. Population Connectivity of the Highly Migratory Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque 1810) and Implications for Management in the Southern Hemisphere

Author

Corrigan, Shannon, primary, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, Beheregaray, Luciano B., additional, Bruce, Barry D., additional, Cliff, Geremy, additional, Duffy, Clinton A., additional, Foulis, Alan, additional, Francis, Malcolm P., additional, Goldsworthy, Simon D., additional, Hyde, John R., additional, Jabado, Rima W., additional, Kacev, Dovi, additional, Marshall, Lindsay, additional, Mucientes, Gonzalo R., additional, Naylor, Gavin J. P., additional, Pepperell, Julian G., additional, Queiroz, Nuno, additional, White, William T., additional, Wintner, Sabine P., additional, and Rogers, Paul J., additional

Published
2018
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31. Choose Your Poison—Space-Use Strategy Influences Pollutant Exposure in Barents Sea Polar Bears

Author

Tartu, Sabrina, primary, Aars, Jon, additional, Andersen, Magnus, additional, Polder, Anuschka, additional, Bourgeon, Sophie, additional, Merkel, Benjamin, additional, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, Bytingsvik, Jenny, additional, Welker, Jeffrey M., additional, Derocher, Andrew E., additional, Jenssen, Bjørn Munro, additional, and Routti, Heli, additional

Published
2018
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41. Trophodynamics of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem: Ecological change associated with the growth of Australia's largest fishery

Author

Goldsworthy, Simon D., primary, Page, Brad, additional, Rogers, Paul J., additional, Bulman, Cathy, additional, Wiebkin, Annelise, additional, McLeay, Lachlan J., additional, Einoder, Luke, additional, Baylis, Alastair M.M., additional, Braley, Michelle, additional, Caines, Robin, additional, Daly, Keryn, additional, Huveneers, Charlie, additional, Peters, Kristian, additional, Lowther, Andrew D., additional, and Ward, Tim M., additional

Published
2013
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45. Detecting alternate foraging ecotypes in Australian sea lion ( Neophoca cinerea) colonies using stable isotope analysis.

Author

Lowther, Andrew D. and Goldsworthy, S. D.

Subjects
FORAGING behavior, AUSTRALIAN sea lion, STABLE isotopes, NITROGEN content of seawater, MARINE mammals, SEAL behavior, PHILOPATRY
Abstract

Stable carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N) isotopes are used frequently to describe the trophic ecology of top marine mammal predators. Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) are one of the world’s rarest otariid seals and exhibit the highest levels of natal site philopatry of any seal. We report the development of a screening technique to identify different foraging ecotypes and assess their relative frequencies inAustralian sea lionbreeding colonies using stable isotope ratios in pups. Geospatial and dive data from 15 adult females at three breeding colonies revealed alternate foraging strategies (inshore and offshore foraging) that were reflected in significant changes in δ13 C and δ15 N. Isotope fractionation from mother to pup was validated using paired whisker and blood serum samples with no significant difference between δ13 C and δ15 N enrichment of +1.27‰(whiskers) and +1.92‰(blood serum) from mothers to pups. Isotope ratios from whisker samples representing over 50% of pups born at threecolonies revealed significant intercolony differences in maternal foraging ecotype frequencies. These results are unique in that ecologicalpartitioning over such a small spatial scale has not been described in any other otariid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2011
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46. KRILLSCAN: An automated open‐source software for processing and analysis of echosounder data from the Antarctic krill fishery.

Author

Menze, Sebastian, Macaulay, Gavin J., Zhang, Guosong, Lowther, Andrew D., and Krafft, Bjørn A.

Subjects
*EUPHAUSIA superba, *GRAPHICAL user interfaces, *KRILL, *COMPUTER software testing, *DATA analysis
Abstract

Krillscan software was developed to automatically process echosounder data and achieve an accelerated and transparent analysis of backscatter data that allows calculation of target biomass. Herein, the fishery for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba, Henceforth Krill) was used as a case study to develop the approach. Implementation of a sustainable management strategy for the krill fishery is complicated by a lack of regularly updated krill abundance data on spatiotemporal scales of the fishery. To increase krill biomass data availability, automatic echosounder data processing and swarm detection software was tested against traditional manual scrutinization with LSSS software and agreed with only minor offsets in estimated nautical area scattering coefficients. In addition to automatic processing and data transfer, Krillscan also has a graphical user interface to supervise automatic krill swarm detection. Echogram size can be compressed up to 100 times and raw data are processed faster than generated, thereby enabling near‐real time analysis and data transfer. Compressed data can be transmitted online to allow fishing vessels to conduct surveys without having scientific personnel with special expertise on board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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47. An interannual study of foraging behaviour in sympatrically breeding macaroni Eudyptes chrysolophus and chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus at Bouvetøya

Author

Narvestad, Audun, Ims, Rolf, and Lowther, Andrew D.

Subjects
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488, central place foraging, VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Basic biosciences: 470::Biochemistry: 476, niche segregation, stable isotope analysis, BIO-3950, VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Marine biology: 497, ecological niche, Southern Ocean, low krill events, competition, radio telemetry
Abstract

Species are likely to segregate their ecological niches to minimize competition for resources, but for centrally foraging predators that breed on sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean the possibility of niche segregation may be minimal. This study is the first to examine the spatial and trophic aspects of the foraging niche of sympatrically breeding macaroni and chinstrap penguins at the poorly-studied sub-Antarctic island Bouvetøya over multiple years. To measure at-sea movements and dive behavior, 90 breeding macaroni Eudyptes chrysolophus and 49 breeding chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus were deployed with satellite transmitters and time-depth recorders over two austral summer breeding seasons, 2015 and 2018. In addition, tracked birds were sampled for blood for biogeochemical dietary analysis. Chinstrap penguins displayed large interannual variation in foraging behavior between the two years, and dove deeper, utilized larger foraging areas during late breeding stages and showed enriched values of δ15N in the first- compared to the second- year. Conversely, macaroni penguins dove to similar depths and displayed similar values of δ15N in both years. Our results suggest that potentially low krill abundances in the waters around Bouvetøya in 2015 forced the chinstrap penguins to search for alternative prey, like myctophid fishes, which resulted in increased overlap in the two species' foraging niche. Consequently, the chinstrap penguins may have faced increased interspecific competition for prey or catabolism from food shortage. Irrespective, our findings may partly explain the decreasing number of breeding chinstrap penguins at the world's most remote island, Bouvetøya.

Published
2019

48. Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard

Author

Palomino Gonzalez, Albert, Lowther, Andrew D., Kovacs, Kit M., Lydersen, Christian, and Ims, Rolf Anker

Subjects
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488, VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Økologi: 488, distance threshold, disturbance, BIO-3950, VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Marine biology: 497, remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Marinbiologi: 497, drone, haul-out, marine mammals, behaviour
Abstract

The impact of Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS, or drones) on marine mammals remains poorly documented despite their increasing use by hobbyists and scientists. In the High-Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, where marine mammals are facing increasing pressure from the coupled effects of climate modification and an expanding tourism industry, the use of RPAS remains largely unregulated to date. In this study we assessed the impacts of RPAS on marine mammals, conducting experimental flights to provide science-based management advice. Our novel approach included RPAS in a range of sizes and different approach strategies, and it accounted for RPAS sound levels as well as animal behaviour prior to and after RPAS flights. Harbour seals were more sensitive during pre-breeding, reacting at distances of 80 m, than during moulting. Walruses responded at distances of 50 m. Pre-experimental levels of alertness increased sensitivity to RPAS disturbance notably. Polar bears reacted to the sound of RPAS during take-off at 300 m, although response levels were relatively low and remained so even at 60 m. Belugas reacted only visually to RPAS, when flying ahead of the pod below 15 m. Our study highlights a range of factors that can influence sensitivity to RPAS including tidal state and swell, the presence of young individuals, ambient noise levels and RPAS approach strategy. Large variations in sound levels during overhead descents and other manual flights increase RPAS disturbance potential to a greater extent than RPAS size when flying pre-programmed profiles. Physiological state and levels of alertness prior to experimentation also affected RPAS disturbance potential. We provide empirically-derived flight distances that can help management authorities establish guidelines for the use of RPAS in Svalbard.

Published
2019

49. Trophodynamics of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem: ecological change associated with the growth of Australia's largest fishery

Author

Charlie Huveneers, Lachlan J. McLeay, Michelle Braley, Brad Page, Tim M. Ward, Andrew D. Lowther, Keryn Daly, C Bulman, Alastair M. M. Baylis, Annelise Wiebkin, Paul J. Rogers, Luke D. Einoder, Robin Caines, Simon D. Goldsworthy, Kristian J. Peters, Goldsworthy, Simon D, Page, Brad, Rogers, Paul J, Bulman, Cathy, Wiebkin, Annelise, McLeay, Lachlan J, Einoder, Luke, Baylis, Alastair MM, Braley, Michelle, Daly, Keryn, Huveneers, Charlie, Peters, Kristian, Lowther, Andrew D, and Ward, Tim M

Subjects
Ecosystem health, Biomass (ecology), Ecology, Sardinops sagax, Ecological Modeling, fishing impacts, Fishing, food web model, Eastern Great Australian Bight, sardine, Fishery, Geography, Ecopath with Ecosim, Forage fish, EcoSim, Ecosystem, Trophic level, Apex predator
Abstract

We used the Ecopath with Ecosim software to develop a trophic mass-balance model of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem, off southern Australia. Results provide an ecosystem perspective of Australia's largest fishery, the South Australian sardine fishery, by placing its establishment and growth in the context of other dynamic changes in the ecosystem, including: the development of other fisheries; changing abundances of apex predator populations and oceanographic change. We investigated the potential impacts of the sardine fishery on high tropic level predators, particularly land-breeding seals and seabirds which may be suitable ecological performance indicators of ecosystem health. Results indicate that despite the rapid growth of the sardine fishery since 1991, there has likely been a negligible fishery impact on other modelled groups, suggesting that current levels of fishing effort are not impacting negatively on the broader ecosystem structure and function in the eastern Great Australian Bight. Results highlight the importance of small pelagic fish to higher trophic levels, the trophic changes that have resulted from loss and recovery of apex predator populations, and the potential pivotal role of cephalopod biomass in regulating 'bottom-up' trophic processes. The ability to resolve and attribute potential impacts from multiple fisheries, other human impacts and ecological change in this poorly understood region is highlighted by the study, and will be critical to ensure future ecologically sustainable development within the region. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Published
2013

50. Identifying prey capture events of a free-ranging marine predator using bio-logger data and deep learning.

Author

Schoombie S, Jeantet L, Chimienti M, Sutton GJ, Pistorius PA, Dufourq E, Lowther AD, and Oosthuizen WC

Abstract

Marine predators are integral to the functioning of marine ecosystems, and their consumption requirements should be integrated into ecosystem-based management policies. However, estimating prey consumption in diving marine predators requires innovative methods as predator-prey interactions are rarely observable. We developed a novel method, validated by animal-borne video, that uses tri-axial acceleration and depth data to quantify prey capture rates in chinstrap penguins ( Pygoscelis antarctica ). These penguins are important consumers of Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ), a commercially harvested crustacean central to the Southern Ocean food web. We collected a large data set ( n = 41 individuals) comprising overlapping video, accelerometer and depth data from foraging penguins. Prey captures were manually identified in videos, and those observations were used in supervised training of two deep learning neural networks (convolutional neural network (CNN) and V-Net). Although the CNN and V-Net architectures and input data pipelines differed, both trained models were able to predict prey captures from new acceleration and depth data (linear regression slope of predictions against video-observed prey captures = 1.13; R 2 ≈ 0.86). Our results illustrate that deep learning algorithms offer a means to process the large quantities of data generated by contemporary bio-logging sensors to robustly estimate prey capture events in diving marine predators., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Published
2024
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