Alaska Northern Fur Seal Adult Satellite Telemetry Data, 2002/03 and 2009/10

Description

Adult male and female northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) are sexually segregated in different regions of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea during their winter migration. Explanations for this involve interplay between physiology, predator-prey dynamics, and ecosystem characteristics, however possible mechanisms lack empirical support. To investigate factors influencing the winter ecology of both sexes, we deployed five satellite-linked conductivity, temperature, and depth data loggers on adult males, and six satellite-linked depth data loggers and four satellite transmitters on adult females from St. Paul Island (Bering Sea, Alaska, USA) in October 2009. Males and females migrated to different regions of the North Pacific Ocean: males wintered in the Bering Sea and northern North Pacific Ocean, while females migrated to the Gulf of Alaska and California Current. Horizontal and vertical movement behaviors of both sexes were influenced by wind speed, season, light (sun and moon), and the ecosystem they occupied, although the expression of the behaviors differed between sexes. Male dive depths were aligned with the depth of the mixed layer during daylight periods and we suspect this was the case for females upon their arrival to the California Current. We suggest that females, because of their smaller size and physiological limitations, must avoid severe winters typical of the northern North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea and migrate long distances to areas of more benign environmental conditions and where prey is shallower and more accessible. In contrast, males can better tolerate often extreme winter ocean conditions and exploit prey at depth because of their greater size and physiological capabilities. We believe these contrasting winter behaviors 1) are a consequence of evolutionary selection for large size in males, important to the acquisition and defense of territories against rivals during the breeding season, and 2) ease environmental/physiological constraints imposed on smaller females.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
57 Zipped data tables (in csv formats) https://access.afsc.noaa.gov/data-zips/28420_AEP_2002-2010_NFS_Argos.zip
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/28420
0 Animal Telemetry Network project page for this study with an interactive visual display of data. https://portal.atn.ioos.us/#metadata/c28473da-8d55-4dc6-ac16-2d9be9105027/project
0 The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/find-data/idn/gcmd-keywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/afsc/dmp/pdf/28420.pdf

Tags

  • alaska fisheries science center
  • habitat utilization
  • north pacific ocean
  • pinniped
  • animal migration
  • noaa
  • marine ecosystems
  • california current ecosystem
  • callorhinus ursinus
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • national marine fisheries service
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/afsc
  • california
  • northern fur seal
  • washington
  • otariid
  • bering sea
  • alaska ecosystems program
  • oregon

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