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Foraging patterns of Antarctic minke whales in McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2020

David G. Ainley Open the ORCID record for David G. Ainley [Opens in a new window] ,
Trevor W. Joyce Open the ORCID record for Trevor W. Joyce [Opens in a new window] ,
Ben Saenz Open the ORCID record for Ben Saenz [Opens in a new window] ,
Robert L. Pitman Open the ORCID record for Robert L. Pitman [Opens in a new window] ,
John W. Durban Open the ORCID record for John W. Durban [Opens in a new window] ,
Grant Ballard Open the ORCID record for Grant Ballard [Opens in a new window] ,
Kendra Daly Open the ORCID record for Kendra Daly [Opens in a new window]  and
Stacy Kim Open the ORCID record for Stacy Kim [Opens in a new window]
David G. Ainley*
Affiliation:
HT Harvey and Associates, 983 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA95032, USA
Trevor W. Joyce
Affiliation:
Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA92037, USA National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, 500 Fifth Street, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
Ben Saenz
Affiliation:
Resource Management Associates, 756 Picasso Ave G, Davis, CA95618, USA
Robert L. Pitman
Affiliation:
Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA92037, USA Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR97365, USA
John W. Durban
Affiliation:
Southhall Environmental Associates, 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, 95003, USA
Grant Ballard
Affiliation:
Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite #11, Petaluma, CA94954, USA
Kendra Daly
Affiliation:
University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave S, St Petersburg, FL33701, USA
Stacy Kim
Affiliation:
Moss Landing Marine Labs, 8272 Moss Landing Rd, Moss Landing, CA95039, USA
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

Evidence indicates that Antarctic minke whales (AMWs) in the Ross Sea affect the foraging behaviour, especially diet, of sympatric Adélie penguins (ADPEs) by, we hypothesize, influencing the availability of prey they have in common, mainly crystal krill. To further investigate this interaction, we undertook a study in McMurdo Sound during 2012–2013 and 2014–2015 using telemetry and biologging of whales and penguins, shore-based observations and quantification of the preyscape. The 3D distribution and density of prey were assessed using a remotely operated vehicle deployed along and to the interior of the fast-ice edge where AMWs and ADPEs focused their foraging. Acoustic surveys of prey and foraging behaviour of predators indicate that prey remained abundant under the fast ice, becoming successively available to air-breathing predators only as the fast ice retreated. Over both seasons, the ADPE diet included less krill and more Antarctic silverfish once AMWs became abundant, but the penguins' foraging behaviour (i.e. time spent foraging, dive depth, distance from colony) did not change. In addition, over time, krill abundance decreased in the upper water column near the ice edge, consistent with the hypothesis (and previously gathered information) that AMW and ADPE foraging contributed to an alteration of prey availability.

Keywords

Adélie penguinAntarctic silverfishcrystal krillinterspecific interactionsprey depletiontrophic competition
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 32 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 454 - 465
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Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2020

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