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Patchily distributed marine pelagic prey present considerable challenges to predatory seabirds, including Gannets (Morus spp.) departing from large breeding colonies. Here, for the first time, we used GPS data loggers to provide detailed spatial, temporal, and habitat metrics of chick-rearing Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator) foraging behaviours from two distant colonies in New Zealand. Our goal was to examine the extent to which Gannet foraging tactics vary across disparate habitats, and determine whether the observed differences are consistent with predictions derived from foraging studies of other gannet species. Foraging trip performance was highly consistent between colonies, and sexes, and no significant differences in any of the variables analyzed were observed. However, Gannets from Farewell Spit (FS) dove in shallower waters (0 50 m) than birds from Cape Kidnappers (CK, [50 m), which is consistent with previous dietary studies suggesting that FS Gannets feed mainly on coastal prey, whereas CK birds feed on species with a more oceanic distribution. Diving frequencies were similar in the two colonies suggesting that Gannets were foraging in habitats with similar levels of food availability. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between prey availability, oceanography and geographic features, to better interpret foraging tactics of Australasian Gannets.Keywords Foraging range Á Diving behaviour Á Morus serrator Á Food sources Á GPS data loggers Á Seabirds Communicated by C. Barbraud. G. E. Machovsky Capuska (&)Á

During the last centuries, populations of marine megafauna—such as seabirds, turtles, and mammals—were intensively exploited. At present, other threats such as bycatch and pollution affect these species, which play key ecological roles in marine ecosystems as apex consumers and/or nutrient transporters. This study analyses the distribution of six megafaunal species (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, Thalassarche melanophris, Otaria flavescens, and Arctocephalus australis) coexisting in the Southwestern Atlantic to discuss their protection in terms of current management strategies in the region. Through the prediction of the species potential distributions and their relation to bathymetry, sea temperature and oceanographic fronts, key ecological areas are defined from a multi-taxa perspective. Information on the distribution of 70 individuals (18 sea turtles, 19 albatrosses, and 33 otariids) was obtained through satellite tracking conducted during 2007–2013 and analysed using a Geographic Information System and maximum entropy models. During the autumn–winter period, megafaunal species were distributed over the continental shelves of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, mainly over the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone and the Argentina-Uruguay Common Fishing Zone. Despite some differences, all megafaunal species seems to have similar environmental requirements during the autumn–winter period. Mostly waters shallower than 50 m were identified as key ecological areas, with the Río de la Plata as the habitat with the highest suitability for all the species. This area is highly productive and sustains the main coastal fisheries of Uruguay and Argentina, yet its role as a key ecological area for megafaunal species has been underestimated until now. This approach provides a basis to analyse the effect of anthropic activities on megafaunal species through risk maps and, ultimately, to generate knowledge to improve national and bi-national management plans between Argentina and Uruguay.

This study was the first ECG description for this species, and provides valuable information for cardiac monitoring during anaesthesia.

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a b s t r a c tAt-sea behavior and effects of hydrographic conditions on the pelagic habitat use of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) seasonally inhabiting the surrounding waters of shallow rocky reefs off Punta Mogotes (Mar del Plata, Argentina) were analyzed integrating geographic locations of fur seal groups (FSGs) with coastal hydrographic conditions and behavioral data in a Geographic Information System. Punta Mogotes rocky reefs represent a potentially high quality patch foraging area, crucial to a central place foraging species during their pelagic dispersion at sea. Fur seal behavior at-sea was strongly influenced by hydrographic conditions such us bathymetry, Beafourt sea state and sea surface current direction. Fur seals General Use Area (GUA) was associated with the 10 m isobaths, whereas Critical Use Area (CUA) was almost completely enclosed within the 5 m isobaths. A concentration-dispersion dynamic trend according to sea state was evident (GUA Beafourt ≤3 = 3.3 km 2 vs. GUA Beafourt >3 = 1.7 km 2 ), with a "use area displacement" according to sea surface current direction. A general prevalence of long, atsea resting periods (passive floating was the most frequently performed behavior, and usually for long periods) and a differential occurrence of each behavior associated with Beafourt sea states were detected. During calm seas (Beafourt ≤3), fur seals exhibit passive floating, occupying extended areas, and drifting according to sea surface current direction. With increasing sea states (Beafourt sea state >3), fur seals tended to perform shallow prolonged immersion and directional movements, and concentrated in restricted areas weakly affected by currents. The importance of floating periods at-sea, probably associated with resting and digestion, was interpreted as an energy conserving strategy that would allow an increase overall foraging efficiency. Results suggested that the ability of fur seals to perform certain behaviors that will allow completing physiological process and ultimately determine reproduction and survival success, would be conditioned by the hydrographic regime at foraging areas. This last could be extrapolated to other fur seal species spending long times at-sea, both as part of migration movements or during typical long foraging round trips.