Habitat use and diving behaviour of harbour seals in a coastal archipelago in Norway

Bjørge, Arne; Thompson, Dave; Hammond, Philip S.; Fedak, Michael A.; Bryant, Edmund B.; Aarefjord, Hilde; Roen, Randi; Olsen, Marianne

doi:10.1016/s0163-6995(06)80025-9

Cited by 48 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The longest harbour seal dive on record is 31 min (Ries et al 1997). In a number of studies of harbour seal diving, mean dive durations were 1±6 min, with maximum durations 6± 15 min, the results re¯ecting local bathymetry (Boness et al 1994;Bjùrge et al 1995;Suryan and Harvey 1998;Lesage 1999). In the present study, 97% of the dives were shorter than 10 min, but dives lasting longer than 25 min were recorded.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…These deep dives were observed when deep waters occurred relatively close to haul-out sites (Tollit et al 1998). Harbour seal feeding areas are typically located 10±70 km away from their preferred haul-out sites : 10,20,40,60,90,120,150,200,250,300,350,400,450 and >450 m. Duration histogram bin lower limits are: 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25 and >25 min (Thompson et al 1991;Bjùrge et al 1995;Tollit et al 1998;Lesage et al 1999). In the Prins Karls Forland area, the continental shelf break is only 35 km oshore.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the literature, harbour seals are noted as usually feeding at the sea-bed (HaÈ rkoÈ nen and Heide-Jùrgensen 1991; Bjùrge et al 1995;Tollit et al 1998). Because of the limitations in the accuracy of the SLDRs, it is not known if harbour seals in Svalbard were diving to the sea-bed, but based on the dive-depth frequencies and the bathymetry of the area, this seems likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harbour seals are generally considered to feed close to the sea-bed and at moderate depths (4±200 m) (HaÈ rkoÈ nen and Heide-Jùrgensen 1991; Bjùrge et al 1995;Tollit et al 1998;Lesage et al 1999). In Svalbard, most of the haul-out sites are located in areas which include shallow-water shelves less than 200 m deep, but also deep waters down to depths of more than 1,000 m.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution and diving of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) in Svalbard

2001

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The distribution, movements and diving of high-arctic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were studied in Svalbard, Norway, from 1992 to 1995. A total of 14 seals were equipped with satellite transmitters at Prins Karls Forland (ca. 78°30¢N 12°E). These gave data on position, but ten also gave information on dive depths (N 160,000) and dive durations (N 162,000). Divedepth frequencies show that 50% of the diving is shallower than 40 m, and that 95% of the diving is shallower than 250 m. Based on dive-duration frequencies, 50% of the dives lasted 2±4 min, 90% of the dives lasted less than 7 min, and 97% were shorter than 10 min. All but three seals stayed in the tagging area.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution and diving of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) in Svalbard

2001

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“…These boat-based techniques also have been used to track grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (Fedak et al 1988, Thompson et al 1991, Hammond et al 1993, Thompson and Fedak 1993, Bjørge et al 1995, Suryan and Harvey 1998, while northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) have been radio-tracked using fixed wing aircraft (Ragen et al 1995). Active tracking methods offer several advantages over more remote techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techniques for real-time, active tracking of sea lions

Lea

Wilson²

2006

Sea Lions of the World

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The movements of otariids at sea are generally studied by satellite telemetry. At fine scales (1-20 km), however, the level of precision provided by this technique (± mean 1.5-19 km) may be insufficient to accurately reconstruct the track of an individual and/or integrate such movement data with habitat and environmental features. An alternative technique is the boat-based active tracking of individuals by very high frequency (VHF) or acoustic telemetry. By following an individual equipped with transmitters, detailed observations of habitat use, predator occurrence, social context, behavioral state, and prey availability may be integrated to provide a real-time context in which to place the animals' movements. For species such as the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), which are difficult to recapture, such techniques enable the collection of much needed contextual information. Here we describe the methods we applied to actively track Steller sea lions. Twenty-one juveniles were captured in Southeast Alaska during October 2003 and February 2004. They were fitted with a variety of VHF, satellite, and/or acoustic tags and were tracked through the winter and spring of [2003][2004]. The use of ship-based VHF telemetry in conjunction with real time navigation plotting software was highly successful and provided 37 fine-scale tracks of coastal and pelagic 1 Current

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Disturbance‐induced responses of VHF and satellite tagged harbour seals

Andersen

Teilmann

Dietz

et al. 2013

Aquatic Conservation

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The response of individual harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) to controlled and sporadic disturbances when hauled out in the Anholt seal reserve, Denmark, was studied. Sporadic disturbances from pedestrians, boats, low‐flying aeroplanes and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were observed in or near the reserve. VHF and satellite transmitters were attached to eight harbour seals to determine post‐disturbance and undisturbed behaviour during the pre‐breeding period (25 April to 21 May 2008).Both disturbed and undisturbed seals mostly returned to the haul‐out site from dusk and throughout the night. Only pedestrian disturbances caused significantly longer‐lasting trips at sea than undisturbed trips, while the other types of disturbance did not affect trip duration. The general maximum extent and area‐use of disturbed and undisturbed trips were comparable and almost all at‐sea locations were within 40 km from the haul‐out site. The maximum extent of post‐disturbance trips, however, varied among individuals and disturbance types, and was strongly correlated with the duration of trips.Disturbed and undisturbed seals used the same areas, suggesting that these areas represent normal foraging areas. This may indicate that harbour seals reduce the cost of being disturbed by foraging after disturbances instead of waiting close to the haul‐out site to resume hauling out.During the pre‐breeding period the seals showed a very high site fidelity by consistently returning to the same haul‐out site, even when subjected to repeated disturbances. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Habitat use and diving behaviour of harbour seals in a coastal archipelago in Norway

Cited by 48 publications

References 15 publications

Distribution and diving of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) in Svalbard

Distribution and diving of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) in Svalbard

Techniques for real-time, active tracking of sea lions

Disturbance‐induced responses of VHF and satellite tagged harbour seals

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