Seasonal changes in diel haul‐out patterns of a lacustrine ringed seal (<i>Pusa hispida saimensis</i>)

Niemi, Marja; Nykänen, Milaja; Biard, Vincent; Kunnasranta, Mervi

doi:10.1002/ece3.10264

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Studies estimating availability correction factors for seals typically use logistic regression-style analyses to estimate the time-specific probability of being hauled out based on ‘wet/dry’ data relayed by bio-loggers. In these models, haul-out probabilities were expressed as a function of predictive covariates, such as time-of-day, day-of-year, sex, age class, and environmental conditions (e.g., Reder et al (2003), Bengtson & Cameron (2004), Bengtson et al (2005), Udevitz et al (2009), Lonergan et al (2013), Ver Hoef et al (2014), Southwell et al (2008), and Niemi et al (2023)). However, sample sizes have often been insufficient to permit strong inference about demographic and/or seasonal variation in haul-out probabilities.…”

Section: Ntroductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring haul-out behavior of seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas

London

Conn

Hardy

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Ice-associated seals rely on sea ice for a variety of activities, including breeding, molting, pupping, and resting. In the Arctic, many of these activities occur in spring (April -- June) as sea ice begins to melt and retreat northward. Rapid acceleration of climate change in Arctic ecosystems is therefore of concern as the quantity and quality of suitable habitat is forecast to decrease. In this paper, we use data collected from satellite-linked bio-loggers deployed between 2005 and 2020 to investigate the seasonal timing and environmental factors affecting haul-out behavior by ice-associated seals. We specifically focused on bearded (_Erignathus barbatus_), ribbon (_Histriophoca fasciata_), and spotted seals (_Phoca largha_) in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Because ringed seals (_Phoca hispida_) are unique in their use of snow lairs, they were not included and a separate analysis is warranted. In addition to providing baseline data on phenology, these data also allow us to quantify 'availability', which is needed to accurately estimate abundance from aerial survey counts of these seals basking on ice (i.e., to correct for the proportion of animals that are in the water while surveys are conducted). Using generalized linear mixed pseudo-models to properly account for temporal autocorrelation, we fit models with covariates of interest (e.g., day-of-year, solar hour, age-sex class, wind speed, barometric pressure, temperature, precipitation) to examine their ability to explain variation in hourly haul-out probability. We found evidence for strong diurnal and within-season patterns in haul-out behavior, as well as strong weather effects (particularly wind and temperature). In general, seals were more likely to haul out on ice in the middle of the day and when wind speed was low and temperatures were higher. Haul-out probability increased through March and April, peaking in May and early June before declining again. The timing and frequency of haul-out events also varied based on species and age-sex class. For ribbon and spotted seals, models with year effects were highly supported, indicating that the timing and magnitude of haul-out behavior varied among years. However, we did not find evidence that haul-out timing was linked to annual sea ice extent. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of accounting for seasonal and temporal variation in haul-out behavior, as well as associated environmental covariates, when interpreting the number of seals counted in aerial surveys.

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Section: Ntroductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring haul-out behavior of seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas

London

Conn

Hardy

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…For example, Niemi et al. (2023) found diel haul‐out patterns of the lacustrine Saimaa ringed seal ( Pusa hispida saimensis ) change markedly between seasons, switching from nocturnal to diurnal depending on the availability of ice and the seals' moulting phase. By exploring the full spectrum of activity patterns, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of species' ecological roles, interspecific interactions, and responses to human‐mediated disturbance (Cox & Gaston, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Midnight siesta: Bimodal temporal activity observed in an endangered marsupial predator

Moore,

Diete,

Indigo

et al. 2024

Austral Ecology

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Understanding animal behavioural patterns can provide insight into how populations and communities are adapting to broader environmental shifts. The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an endangered marsupial predator, has traditionally been classified as nocturnal. However, evidence is emerging that such simple classifications belie the complexity of animal activity patterns. Using time‐stamped camera trap imagery and fine‐scale accelerometer data, our study explores the diel activity patterns of northern quolls across their range in northern Australia. Contrary to the conventional nocturnal classification, we found that the northern quoll used bimodal activity patterns in four of the five populations examined in this study. Activity and accelerometer data showed two nightly movement peaks, with a distinctive lull around midnight, a pattern similar to one displayed by other marsupial predators. We found no consistent effect of season or lunar phase on temporal activity. Instead, its possible temporal activity patterns are primarily influenced by factors not accounted for here, such as prey availability, climate, predator avoidance, or energy expenditure related to digestion. We suggest further research incorporating these factors will improve our understanding of northern quoll behaviour.

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Linking ringed seal foraging behaviour to environmental variability

Nykänen,

Niemi,

Biard

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background: Foraging rates directly influence animals' energetic intake and expenditure and are thus linked to body condition and the ability to survive and reproduce. Further, understanding the underlying processes driving a species' behaviour and habitat use is important as changes in behaviour could result from changes in environmental conditions. Methods: In this study, the dives of Saimaa ringed seals (Pusa hispida saimensis) were classified for the first time using hidden Markov models and telemetry data collected on individual dives, and the behavioural states of the diving seals were estimated. In addition, we used generalized additive mixed models on the foraging probability of the seals to identify environmental and temporal drivers of foraging behaviour. Results: We inferred three (in winter) or four (in summer) different dive types: sleeping/resting dives, shallow inactive dives, transiting dives and foraging dives, based on differences in dive metrics logged by or derived from data from telemetry tags. Long and relatively deep sleeping/resting dives were missing entirely in the winter, compensated by an increased proportion of time used for haul-out. We found profound differences in the behaviour of Saimaa ringed seals during the summer open water season compared to the ice-covered winter, with the greatest proportion of time allocated to foraging during the summer months (36%) and the lowest proportion in the winter (21%). The seals' foraging probability peaked in summer (July) and was highest during the daytime during both summer and winter months. Moreover, foraging probability was highest at depths of 7-30 m in the winter and at depths >15 m in the summer. We also found some evidence of sex-specific foraging strategies that are adapted seasonally, with females preferring more sheltered water areas during winter. Conclusions: We suggest that the foraging behaviour of Saimaa ringed seals is largely influenced by diel vertical movements and availability of fish, and that the seals optimize their energy acquisition while conserving energy, especially during the cold winter months. Further, the seals display some flexibility in foraging strategies, a feature that may help this endangered subspecies to cope with ongoing anthropogenic climate change.

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Seasonal changes in diel haul‐out patterns of a lacustrine ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis)

Cited by 3 publications

References 43 publications

Spring haul-out behavior of seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas

Spring haul-out behavior of seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas

Midnight siesta: Bimodal temporal activity observed in an endangered marsupial predator

Linking ringed seal foraging behaviour to environmental variability

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