Factors associated to the distribution of South American fur seals along the Atlantic coast of South America

TÚNEZ, J. I.; CAPPOZZO, H.L; CASSINI, M. H.

ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE

Oxford Journals

Año: 2007

1054-3139

The aim of this work was to analyze those characteristics of the coast that are associated with distribution and breeding activity of Arctocephalus australis in the Atlantic coast. We used bibliographic data of censuses carried out between 1946 and 1995 and a Geographic Information System (GIS) to integrate information proceeding from censuses and different environmental variables. The pattern of distribution of colonies did not vary in the period of time analyzed even when population abundance increased ten times. This pattern was associated with distance to the shelf break, availability of island and protected zones. We concluded that A. australis colonies are located in areas near foraging sites in deep water and without human disturbance.