On- and off-shelf diving effort of juvenile elephant seals from Península Valdés determined by light loggers

EDER, E; LEWIS, M; MARIN, M R; CAMPAGNA C

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2011 vol. 92 p. 811 - 818

0022-2372

The shallow Patagonian shelf limits the dive depth of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) to less than 100 m, an unusual circumstance for this deep diving species. Beyond the shelf, water depths of > 1000 m enable the seals to either forage deeper and utilize the entire water column. We compared the diving pattern of ten juveniles instrumented with Light-Temperature Loggers to determine if diving effort, measured as dives longer than the aerobic dive limit, differed between on-shelf and off-shelf waters. The productive Patagonian shelf offered an environment where juveniles can improve their diving skills at a lower diving effort. However, this area was also commonly used by older seals which displaced juveniles off-shelf where they exhibited increased diving effort.