In 2006, paired wood and slate panels, each equipped with a temperature probe, were deployed on three different localities on and around the Eiffel Tower edifice (Lucky Strike vent field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) within close proximity of visible hydrothermal activity. Recovery of these panels took place in 2008. For this two-year deployment period, the composition of colonising organisms (both macro-and meiofauna) was assessed, along with image analyses of the deployment sites in 2006 and 2008. Very few significant differences in colonisation between organic (wood) and inorganic (slate) panels were revealed. Rather, the locality of deployment and the local environmental conditions and hydrothermal activity were found to influence taxonomic composition. Variability in microhabitat conditions and biological interactions were hypothesised to interact jointly in shaping new faunal communities on the colonisation substrata. Highlights ► Colonisation substrata within close proximity of hydrothermal fluid flow. ► Comparison of colonisation of wood and slate substrata at vents. ► Community analyses of maco-and meiofaunal composition. ► Influence of temperature and hydrothermal activity on colonists.

. (2017) Movements and site fidelity of killer whales (Orcinus orca) relative to seasonal and long-term shifts in herring (Clupea harengus) distribution. Marine Biology, 164 (8). Article:159.Downloaded from: http://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3080/ Usage of any items from the University of Cumbria's institutional repository 'Insight' must conform to the following fair usage guidelines.Any item and its associated metadata held in the University of Cumbria's institutional repository Insight (unless stated otherwise on the metadata record) may be copied, displayed or performed, and stored in line with the JISC fair dealing guidelines (available here) for educational and not-for-profit activities provided that• the authors, title and full bibliographic details of the item are cited clearly when any part of the work is referred to verbally or in the written form• a hyperlink/URL to the original Insight record of that item is included in any citations of the work • the content is not changed in any way• all files required for usage of the item are kept together with the main item file. You may not• sell any part of an item• refer to any part of an item without citation • amend any item or contextualise it in a way that will impugn the creator's reputation• remove or alter the copyright statement on an item.The full policy can be found here. Alternatively contact the University of Cumbria Repository Editor by emailing insight@cumbria.ac.uk. Predators specialising on migratory prey that frequently change migration route 18 face the challenge of finding prey with an unpredictable distribution. Here, we 19 used photo-identification data to investigate whether killer whales observed in 20 herring overwintering and spawning grounds off Iceland follow herring year-21 round, as previously proposed, and have the ability to adapt to long-term changes 22 in herring distribution. Of 327 identified whales seen more than once, 45% were 23 seen in both grounds, and were thus presumed herring-specialists, likely following 24 herring year-round, while others were only seen on one of the grounds, possibly 25 following herring to unsampled grounds or moving to other locations and 26 exploiting different prey. High seasonal site fidelity to herring grounds, long-term 27 site fidelity to herring spawning grounds, and matches of individual whales 28 between past and recently occupied herring overwintering grounds showed an 29 ability to adapt to long-term changes in prey distribution as well as diversity of 30 movement patterns which are maintained over time, likely as socially-learnt 31traditions. Such population structuring shows that the movement patterns and 32 foraging ecology of herring-eating killer whales are more complex than previously 33 assumed and must be taken into account in future population assessments. 34Identifying the factors driving these differences in movements and resource use 35 will be relevant towards our understanding of how prey predictability may drive 36 specialization in this and other top predator speci...

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Killer whales have a cosmopolitan distribution and as a species are generalists, feeding on a variety of prey. However, local populations tend to specialise on specific prey types. In Icelandic waters, killer whales are generally associated with herring and, thus, have been presumed to be herring specialists. However, recent studies suggest a more complex foraging ecology, possibly including a mosaic of strategies. With increased observational effort in recent years due to research and whale-watching activities, there have been several reports of interactions with different prey, including confirmed predation events. In this study we aimed to summarise the range of potential prey of killer whales observed in Icelandic waters. We report on 12 previously unpublished accounts and review 15 accounts published in the scientific literature or local newspapers, making a total of 27 events where killer whales were observed interacting with actual or potential prey. Thirteen different species, including birds (n = 1), cephalopods (n = 1), fish (n = 5) and marine mammals (n = 6), are reported, although herring is by far the species that killer whales are most often observed interacting with. This study provides the first summary of actual and suspected killer whale prey in Icelandic waters, and contributes towards our understanding of this population’s prey preferences. However, describing the diet of individuals/groups was not possible and this study points to a need for continued monitoring to understand the intricacies of killer whale foraging behaviour in this area.

Odontocetes depredating fish caught on longlines is a serious socio-economic and conservation issue. A good understanding of the underwater depredation behavior by odontocetes is therefore required. Historically, depredation on demersal