极地研究

极地研究

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Major hotspots detected along the Scotia Ridge in autumn for southern right whales Eubalaena australis, Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Antarctic prions Pachyptila desolata

Claude R. Joiris1,2*, Grant R. W. Humphries3, Diederik D’Hert1, René-Marie Lafontaine1,2, Henri Robert1,2 & Roseline C. Beudels-Jamar1,2   

  1. 1 Laboratory for Polar Ecology (PolE), 1367 Ramillies, Belgium;
    2 Conservation Biology Unit, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, 1000 Brussels, Belgium;
    3 Department of Ecology and Evolution. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA 11794  
  • 出版日期:1965-12-30 发布日期:1965-12-30
  • 通讯作者: Claude R. Joiris

Major hotspots detected along the Scotia Ridge in autumn for southern right whales Eubalaena australis, Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella and Antarctic prions Pachyptila desolata

Claude R. Joiris1,2*, Grant R. W. Humphries3, Diederik D’Hert1, René-Marie Lafontaine1,2, Henri Robert1,2 & Roseline C. Beudels-Jamar1,2   

  1. 1 Laboratory for Polar Ecology (PolE), 1367 Ramillies, Belgium;
    2 Conservation Biology Unit, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, 1000 Brussels, Belgium;
    3 Department of Ecology and Evolution. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA 11794  
  • Online:1965-12-30 Published:1965-12-30
  • Contact: Claude R. Joiris

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摘要： We investigated the role of hydrological features, such as water masses, fronts, eddies, and sea ice, in affecting the distribution of upper trophic level species in the Scotia Sea region during autumn. On board RV Polarstern, we performed 365 30-min strip transects recording seabirds and marine mammals along the North Scotia Ridge and the South Sandwich Trench in March—April 2013. Among the 7 identified cetacean species recorded, the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae was the most abundant baleen whale (40 individuals), and noteworthy were sightings of six southern right whales Eubalaena australis. Pinnipeds (3 species, 1650 individuals) were dominated by Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella (99%), and seabirds (36 species, 18900 individuals) by Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata (~50%). The distribution of these top predators was highly patchy with the majority of observations concentrated in a few counts. This heterogeneity is likely a result of prey availability, and we discuss how hydrological features may have caused the patchiness.

关键词: Scotia Sea, Scotia Ridge, Scotia Trench, seabirds &, marine mammals, southern right whale, Antarctic fur seal, Antarctic prion

Abstract: We investigated the role of hydrological features, such as water masses, fronts, eddies, and sea ice, in affecting the distribution of upper trophic level species in the Scotia Sea region during autumn. On board RV Polarstern, we performed 365 30-min strip transects recording seabirds and marine mammals along the North Scotia Ridge and the South Sandwich Trench in March—April 2013. Among the 7 identified cetacean species recorded, the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae was the most abundant baleen whale (40 individuals), and noteworthy were sightings of six southern right whales Eubalaena australis. Pinnipeds (3 species, 1650 individuals) were dominated by Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella (99%), and seabirds (36 species, 18900 individuals) by Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata (~50%). The distribution of these top predators was highly patchy with the majority of observations concentrated in a few counts. This heterogeneity is likely a result of prey availability, and we discuss how hydrological features may have caused the patchiness.

Key words: Scotia Sea, Scotia Ridge, Scotia Trench, seabirds &, marine mammals, southern right whale, Antarctic fur seal, Antarctic prion