Feeding Habits of Northeast Atlantic Harp Seals (<i>Phoca groenlandica</i>) along the Summer Ice Edge of the Barents Sea

Lydersen, Christian; Angantyr, Lars Anker; Wiig, Øystein; Øritsland, Torger

doi:10.1139/f91-257

Cited by 52 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…jj Data sources: belugas (Seaman et al 1982, Heide-Jørgensen andTeilmann 1994), narwhals (Laidre and Heide-Jørgensen 2005a), bowheads (Lowry 1993, ringed seals (Lowry et al 1980a, Lydersen 1998, Siegstad et al 1998, Wathne et al 2000, bearded seals (Lowry et al 1980b, Antonelis et al 1994, walrus (Fay 1982, Gjertz and Wiig 1992, polar bears (Smith 1985, Calvert and Stirling 1990, Smith and Sjare 1990, Stirling and Øritsland 1995, subarctic seals (Bukhtiyarov et al 1984, Burkanov 1989, Frost and Lowry 1990b, Lydersen et al 1991, Murie and Lavigne 1991, Sergeant 1991, Beck et al 1993, Lowry et al 1998, Folkow and Blix 1999, Deguchi et al 2004, Hammill et al 2005.…”

Section: Species Rankings and Index Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

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626

547

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Abstract. We review seven Arctic and four subarctic marine mammal species, their habitat requirements, and evidence for biological and demographic responses to climate change. We then describe a pan-Arctic quantitative index of species sensitivity to climate change based on population size, geographic range, habitat specificity, diet diversity, migration, site fidelity, sensitivity to changes in sea ice, sensitivity to changes in the trophic web, and maximum population growth potential (R max ). The index suggests three types of sensitivity based on: (1) narrowness of distribution and specialization in feeding, (2) seasonal dependence on ice, and (3) reliance on sea ice as a structure for access to prey and predator avoidance. Based on the index, the hooded seal, the polar bear, and the narwhal appear to be the three most sensitive Arctic marine mammal species, primarily due to reliance on sea ice and specialized feeding. The least sensitive species were the ringed seal and bearded seal, primarily due to large circumpolar distributions, large population sizes, and flexible habitat requirements. The index provides an objective framework for ranking species and focusing future research on the effects of climate change on Arctic marine mammals. Finally, we distinguish between highly sensitive species and good indicator species and discuss regional variation and species-specific ecology that confounds Arctic-wide generalization regarding the effects of climate change.

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Section: Species Rankings and Index Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their diet is varied and includes capelin, mysids, pandalus shrimp, and euphausids (Lydersen et al 1991, Murie and Lavigne 1991, Sergeant 1991, Beck et al 1993, Lawson et al 1995, Hammill et al 2005.…”

Section: Subarctic Ice-associated Sealsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

626

547

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“…Feeding aggregations of these three species in the Canadian High Arctic occur primarily in nearshore areas, where dense schools of arctic cod concentrate in late summer (Bradstreet et al, 1986). Belugas, narwhals, and harp seals often congregate at the ice edge and have been observed to dive repeatedly under the ice, presumably to feed (Bradstreet, 1982;Lydersen et al, 1991). However, coastal feeding aggregations may occur in open water, as well as beneath or near ice.…”

Section: Importance Of the Ice Edge And Sea Ice Community To Marine Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the pelagic amphipod Parathemisto libellula and the arctic cod are both major components of the sympagic community, and are also the two dominant prey species of the Northeast Atlantic population of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica), which migrate long distances in the Barents Sea to feed at ice edges (Lydersen et al, 1991). Harp seals of the Northwest Atlantic population also undertake long migrations (approximately 8000 km round trip) to feed intensively on arctic cod in northern Baffin Bay and the eastern Canadian archipelago (Finley et al, 1990a).…”

Section: Importance Of the Ice Edge And Sea Ice Community To Marine Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations and Predictions of Arctic Climatic Change: Potential Effects on Marine Mammals

Tynan¹,

DeMaster²

1997

ARCTIC

258

186

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ABSTRACT. Recent analyses have revealed trends over the past 20-30 years of decreasing sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean coincident with warming trends. Such trends may be indicative of the polar amplification of warming predicted for the next several decades in response to increasing atmospheric CO 2 . We have summarized these predictions and nonuniform patterns of arctic climate change in order to address their potential effects on marine mammals. Since recent trends in sea ice extent are nonuniform, the direct and indirect effects on marine mammals are expected to vary geographically. Changes in the extent and concentration of sea ice may alter the seasonal distributions, geographic ranges, patterns of migration, nutritional status, reproductive success, and ultimately the abundance and stock structure of some species. Ice-associated seals, which rely on suitable ice substrate for resting, pupping, and molting, may be especially vulnerable to such changes. As recent decreases in ice coverage have been more extensive in the Siberian Arctic (60˚E-180˚E) than in the Beaufort Sea and western sectors, we speculate that marine mammal populations in the Siberian Arctic may be among the first to experience climate-induced geographic shifts or altered reproductive capacity due to persistent changes in ice extent. Alteration in the extent and productivity of ice-edge systems may affect the density and distribution of important ice-associated prey of marine mammals, such as arctic cod Boreogadus saida and sympagic ("with ice") amphipods. Present climate models, however, are insufficient to predict regional ice dynamics, winds, mesoscale features, and mechanisms of nutrient resupply, which must be known to predict productivity and trophic response. Therefore, it is critical that mesoscale process-oriented studies identify the biophysical coupling required to maintain suitable prey availability and ice-associated habitat for marine mammals on regional arctic scales. Only an integrated ecosystems approach can address the complexity of factors determining productivity and cascading trophic dynamics in a warmer Arctic. This approach, integrated with monitoring of key indicator species (e.g., bowhead whale, ringed seal, and beluga), should be a high priority.Key words: Arctic Ocean, climate change, sea ice extent, global warming, marginal ice edge zone, bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, ice-associated seals, ringed seal, Phoca hispida, beluga, Delphinapterus leucas RÉSUMÉ. Des analyses récentes ont fait apparaître des tendances, au cours des 20 à 30 dernières années, à la diminution de l'étendue des glaces de mer dans l'océan Arctique qui coïncident avec des tendances au réchauffement. Ces tendances pourraient être symptomatiques de l'amplification polaire du réchauffement prédit pour les prochaines décennies suite à la hausse de CO 2 dans l'atmosphère. Cet article offre un résumé de ces prédictions et des schémas non uniformes de changement climatique dans l'Arctique, en vue d'examiner leurs retombées potentielles sur les ...

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“…No differences were found between prey composition and size of male and female ribbon seals as had been reported for ringed seals (Phoca hispida) , harp seals (Lydersen et al 1991) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) (Antonelis et al 1994), indicating that there is no segregation in the foraging habits. Although more male ribbon seals had empty stomachs than females, sample sizes were too small to analyze the effect of sex independent of season and developmental class.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

Importance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) to wintering ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) in Nemuro Strait, Hokkaido Japan

Deguchi¹,

Gotö²,

Sakurai³

2004

Mammal Study

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Abstract. Many ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) appear in winter in Nemuro Strait, eastern Hokkaido. We propose that their presence is partly related to an exploitation of the large numbers of spawning walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). To investigate feeding habits of ribbon seals in winter, we sampled stomachs from seals for prey composition and size taken in the strait from FebruaryApril 1996-1998. Nine fish and five squid species were identified from sixty-four seal stomachs. Walleye pollock and magistrate armhook squid (Berryteuthis magister) were predominant in the diet of seals each year. The index of relative importance of prey showed that walleye pollock was the most dominant prey item. Most pollock eaten by seals had reached maturity. Prey distribution suggested that ribbon seals foraged in the intermediate-bottom layer of the continental slope water. No differences were found between prey composition and size of male and female ribbon seals. Subadult and adult ribbon seals consumed more pollock and less squid than young seals, which also tended to consume smaller pollock. Pinpoint lanternfish (Lampanyctus regalis) and saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis) occurred only in stomachs of adults and young, respectively. Foraging technique and diving ability may explain the differences in prey composition and size among seal age classes.

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Feeding Habits of Northeast Atlantic Harp Seals (Phoca groenlandica) along the Summer Ice Edge of the Barents Sea

Cited by 52 publications

References 6 publications

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Observations and Predictions of Arctic Climatic Change: Potential Effects on Marine Mammals

Importance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) to wintering ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) in Nemuro Strait, Hokkaido Japan

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