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Booth CG, Guilpin M, Darias-O’Hara AK, Ransijn JM, Ryder M, Rosen D, Pirotta E, Smout S, McHuron EA, Nabe-Nielsen J, Costa DP. Estimating energetic intake for marine mammal bioenergetic models. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac083. [PMID: 36756464 PMCID: PMC9900471 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetics is the study of how animals achieve energetic balance. Energetic balance results from the energetic expenditure of an individual and the energy they extract from their environment. Ingested energy depends on several extrinsic (e.g prey species, nutritional value and composition, prey density and availability) and intrinsic factors (e.g. foraging effort, success at catching prey, digestive processes and associated energy losses, and digestive capacity). While the focus in bioenergetic modelling is often on the energetic costs an animal incurs, the robust estimation of an individual's energy intake is equally critical for producing meaningful predictions. Here, we review the components and processes that affect energy intake from ingested gross energy to biologically useful net energy (NE). The current state of knowledge of each parameter is reviewed, shedding light on research gaps to advance this field. The review highlighted that the foraging behaviour of many marine mammals is relatively well studied via biologging tags, with estimates of success rate typically assumed for most species. However, actual prey capture success rates are often only assumed, although we note studies that provide approaches for its estimation using current techniques. A comprehensive collation of the nutritional content of marine mammal prey species revealed a robust foundation from which prey quality (comprising prey species, size and energy density) can be assessed, though data remain unavailable for many prey species. Empirical information on various energy losses following ingestion of prey was unbalanced among marine mammal species, with considerably more literature available for pinnipeds. An increased understanding and accurate estimate of each of the components that comprise a species NE intake are an integral part of bioenergetics. Such models provide a key tool to investigate the effects of disturbance on marine mammals at an individual and population level and to support effective conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G Booth
- Corresponding author: SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | | | - Aimee-Kate Darias-O’Hara
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Janneke M Ransijn
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Megan Ryder
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Dave Rosen
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling,
The Observatory, Buchanan
Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews,
KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Elizabeth A McHuron
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-4000
Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 130
McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
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2
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Iorio-Merlo V, Graham IM, Hewitt RC, Aarts G, Pirotta E, Hastie GD, Thompson PM. Prey encounters and spatial memory influence use of foraging patches in a marine central place forager. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212261. [PMID: 35232237 PMCID: PMC8889173 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the patchiness and long-term predictability of marine resources, memory of high-quality foraging grounds is expected to provide fitness advantages for central place foragers. However, it remains challenging to characterize how marine predators integrate memory with recent prey encounters to adjust fine-scale movement and use of foraging patches. Here, we used two months of movement data from harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) to quantify the repeatability in foraging patches as a proxy for memory. We then integrated these data into analyses of fine-scale movement and underwater behaviour to test how both spatial memory and prey encounter rates influenced the seals' area-restricted search (ARS) behaviour. Specifically, we used one month's GPS data from 29 individuals to build spatial memory maps of searched areas and archived accelerometery data from a subset of five individuals to detect prey catch attempts, a proxy for prey encounters. Individuals were highly consistent in the areas they visited over two consecutive months. Hidden Markov models showed that both spatial memory and prey encounters increased the probability of seals initiating ARS. These results provide evidence that predators use memory to adjust their fine-scale movement, and this ability should be accounted for in movement models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Iorio-Merlo
- School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, UK
| | - Isla M Graham
- School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, UK
| | - Rebecca C Hewitt
- School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, UK
| | - Geert Aarts
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group and Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG Den Helder, The Netherlands.,Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK.,School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gordon D Hastie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Paul M Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, UK
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3
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Vance H, Madsen PT, Aguilar de Soto N, Wisniewska DM, Ladegaard M, Hooker S, Johnson M. Echolocating toothed whales use ultra-fast echo-kinetic responses to track evasive prey. eLife 2021; 10:68825. [PMID: 34696826 PMCID: PMC8547948 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual predators rely on fast-acting optokinetic responses to track and capture agile prey. Most toothed whales, however, rely on echolocation for hunting and have converged on biosonar clicking rates reaching 500/s during prey pursuits. If echoes are processed on a click-by-click basis, as assumed, neural responses 100× faster than those in vision are required to keep pace with this information flow. Using high-resolution biologging of wild predator-prey interactions, we show that toothed whales adjust clicking rates to track prey movement within 50–200 ms of prey escape responses. Hypothesising that these stereotyped biosonar adjustments are elicited by sudden prey accelerations, we measured echo-kinetic responses from trained harbour porpoises to a moving target and found similar latencies. High biosonar sampling rates are, therefore, not supported by extreme speeds of neural processing and muscular responses. Instead, the neurokinetic response times in echolocation are similar to those of tracking responses in vision, suggesting a common neural underpinning. In the animal world, split-second decisions determine whether a predator eats, or its prey survives. There is a strong evolutionary advantage to fast reacting brains and bodies. For example, the eye muscles of hunting cheetahs must lock on to a gazelle and keep track of it, no matter how quickly or unpredictably it moves. In fact, in monkeys and primates, these muscles can react to sudden movements in as little as 50 milliseconds – faster than the blink of an eye. But what about animals that do not rely on vision to hunt? To find food at night or in the deep ocean, whales and porpoises make short ultrasonic sounds, or ‘clicks’, and then listen for returning echoes. As they close in on a prey, they need to click faster to get quicker updates on its location. What is unclear is how fast they react to the echoes. Just before a kill, a harbour porpoise can click over 500 times a second: if they wait for the echo from one click before making the next one, they would need responses 100 times faster than human eyes. Exploring this topic is difficult, as it requires tracking predator and prey at the same time. Vance et al. took up the challenge by building sound and movement recorders that attach to whales with suction cups. These were used on two different hunters: deep-diving beaked whales and shallow-hunting harbour porpoises. Both species adapted their click rate depending on how far they were from their prey, but their response times were similar to visual responses in monkeys and humans. This means that whales and porpoises do not act on each echo before clicking again: instead, they respond to groups of tens of clicks at a time. This suggests that their brains may be wired in much the same way as the ones of visual animals. In the ocean, increased human activity creates a dangerous noise pollution that disrupts the delicate hunting mechanism of whales and porpoises. Better understanding how these animals find their food may therefore help conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Vance
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Peter T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Natacha Aguilar de Soto
- BIOECOMAC, Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Michael Ladegaard
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sascha Hooker
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Johnson
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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4
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Elmegaard SL, McDonald BI, Teilmann J, Madsen PT. Heart rate and startle responses in diving, captive harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) exposed to transient noise and sonar. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio058679. [PMID: 34133736 PMCID: PMC8249908 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise can alter marine mammal behaviour and physiology, but little is known about cetacean cardiovascular responses to exposures, despite evidence that acoustic stressors, such as naval sonars, may lead to decompression sickness. Here, we measured heart rate and movements of two trained harbour porpoises during controlled exposure to 6-9 kHz sonar-like sweeps and 40 kHz peak-frequency noise pulses, designed to evoke acoustic startle responses. The porpoises initially responded to the sonar sweep with intensified bradycardia despite unaltered behaviour/movement, but habituated rapidly to the stimuli. In contrast, 40 kHz noise pulses consistently evoked rapid muscle flinches (indicative of startles), but no behavioural or heart rate changes. We conclude that the autonomous startle response appears decoupled from, or overridden by, cardiac regulation in diving porpoises, whereas certain novel stimuli may motivate oxygen-conserving cardiovascular measures. Such responses to sound exposure may contribute to gas mismanagement for deeper-diving cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siri L. Elmegaard
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Birgitte I. McDonald
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9647, USA
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter T. Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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5
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Bethune E, Schulz-Kornas E, Lehnert K, Siebert U, Kaiser TM. Tooth Microwear Texture in the Eastern Atlantic Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) of the German Wadden Sea and Its Implications for Long Term Dietary and Ecosystem Changes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.644019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals are increasingly threatened in their habitat by various anthropogenic impacts. This is particularly evident in prey abundance. Understanding the dietary strategies of marine mammal populations can help predict implications for their future health status and is essential for their conservation. In this study we provide a striking example of a new dietary proxy in pinnipeds to document marine mammal diets using a dental record. In this novel approach, we used a combination of 49 parameters to establish a dental microwear texture (DMTA) as a dietary proxy of feeding behaviour in harbour seals. This method is an established approach to assess diets in terrestrial mammals, but has not yet been applied to pinnipeds. Our aim was to establish a protocol, opening DMTA to pinnipeds by investigating inter- and intra-individual variations. We analysed the 244 upper teeth of 78 Atlantic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina). The specimens were collected in 1988 along the North Sea coast (Wadden Sea, Germany) and are curated by the Zoological Institute of Kiel University, Germany. An increasing surface texture roughness from frontal to distal teeth was found and related to different prey processing biomechanics. Ten and five year old individuals were similar in their texture roughness, whereas males and females were similar to each other with the exception of their frontal dentition. Fall and summer specimens also featured no difference in texture roughness. We established the second to fourth postcanine teeth as reference tooth positions, as those were unaffected by age, sex, season, or intra-individual variation. In summary, applying indirect dietary proxies, such as DMTA, will allow reconstructing dietary traits of pinnipeds using existing skeletal collection material. Combining DMTA with time series analyses is a very promising approach to track health status in pinniped populations over the last decades. This approach opens new research avenues and could help detect dietary shifts in marine environments in the past and the future.
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6
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Nelms SE, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Arnould JPY, Avila IC, Bengtson Nash S, Campbell E, Carter MID, Collins T, Currey RJC, Domit C, Franco-Trecu V, Fuentes MMPB, Gilman E, Harcourt RG, Hines EM, Hoelzel AR, Hooker SK, Johnston DW, Kelkar N, Kiszka JJ, Laidre KL, Mangel JC, Marsh H, Maxwell SM, Onoufriou AB, Palacios DM, Pierce GJ, Ponnampalam LS, Porter LJ, Russell DJF, Stockin KA, Sutaria D, Wambiji N, Weir CR, Wilson B, Godley BJ. Marine mammal conservation: over the horizon. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals can play important ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, and their presence can be key to community structure and function. Consequently, marine mammals are often considered indicators of ecosystem health and flagship species. Yet, historical population declines caused by exploitation, and additional current threats, such as climate change, fisheries bycatch, pollution and maritime development, continue to impact many marine mammal species, and at least 25% are classified as threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) on the IUCN Red List. Conversely, some species have experienced population increases/recoveries in recent decades, reflecting management interventions, and are heralded as conservation successes. To continue these successes and reverse the downward trajectories of at-risk species, it is necessary to evaluate the threats faced by marine mammals and the conservation mechanisms available to address them. Additionally, there is a need to identify evidence-based priorities of both research and conservation needs across a range of settings and taxa. To that effect we: (1) outline the key threats to marine mammals and their impacts, identify the associated knowledge gaps and recommend actions needed; (2) discuss the merits and downfalls of established and emerging conservation mechanisms; (3) outline the application of research and monitoring techniques; and (4) highlight particular taxa/populations that are in urgent need of focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- SE Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - J Alfaro-Shigueto
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
- Facultad de Biologia Marina, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | - JPY Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - IC Avila
- Grupo de Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - S Bengtson Nash
- Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - E Campbell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
| | - MID Carter
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - T Collins
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - RJC Currey
- Marine Stewardship Council, 1 Snow Hill, London, EC1A 2DH, UK
| | - C Domit
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Marine Study Center, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil
| | - V Franco-Trecu
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - MMPB Fuentes
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - E Gilman
- Pelagic Ecosystems Research Group, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - RG Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - EM Hines
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, 3150 Paradise Dr. Tiburon, CA 94920, USA
| | - AR Hoelzel
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - SK Hooker
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - DW Johnston
- Duke Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - N Kelkar
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur PO, Bangalore 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - JJ Kiszka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Coastlines and Oceans Division, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - KL Laidre
- Polar Science Center, APL, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - JC Mangel
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- ProDelphinus, Jose Galvez 780e, Miraflores, Perú
| | - H Marsh
- James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 48111, Australia
| | - SM Maxwell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell WA 98011, USA
| | - AB Onoufriou
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
- Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - DM Palacios
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - GJ Pierce
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - LS Ponnampalam
- The MareCet Research Organization, 40460 Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - LJ Porter
- SMRU Hong Kong, University of St. Andrews, Hong Kong
| | - DJF Russell
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - KA Stockin
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - D Sutaria
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell WA 98011, USA
| | - N Wambiji
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 81651, Mombasa-80100, Kenya
| | - CR Weir
- Ketos Ecology, 4 Compton Road, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2BP, UK
| | - B Wilson
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK
| | - BJ Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
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Abstract
Central place foragers are expected to offset travel costs between a central place and foraging areas by targeting productive feeding zones. Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) make multi-day foraging trips away from coastal haul-out sites presumably to target rich food resources, but periodic track points from telemetry tags may be insufficient to infer reliably where, and how often, foraging takes place. To study foraging behaviour during offshore trips, and assess what factors limit trip duration, we equipped harbour seals in the German Wadden Sea with high-resolution multi-sensor bio-logging tags, recording 12 offshore trips from 8 seals. Using acceleration transients as a proxy for prey capture attempts, we found that foraging rates during travel to and from offshore sites were comparable to offshore rates. Offshore foraging trips may, therefore, reflect avoidance of intra-specific competition rather than presence of offshore foraging hotspots. Time spent resting increased by approx. 37 min/day during trips suggesting that a resting deficit rather than patch depletion may influence trip length. Foraging rates were only weakly correlated with surface movement patterns highlighting the value of integrating multi-sensor data from on-animal bio-logging tags (GPS, depth, accelerometers and magnetometers) to infer behaviour and habitat use.
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Shuert CR, Marcoux M, Hussey NE, Watt CA, Auger-Méthé M. Assessing the post-release effects of capture, handling and placement of satellite telemetry devices on narwhal (Monodon monoceros) movement behaviour. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coaa128. [PMID: 33659061 PMCID: PMC7905160 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Animal-borne telemetry devices have become a popular and valuable means for studying the cryptic lives of cetaceans. Evaluating the effect of capture, handling and tagging procedures remains largely unassessed across species. Here, we examine the effect of capture, handling and tagging activities on an iconic Arctic cetacean, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros), which has previously been shown to exhibit an extreme response to extended capture and handling. Using accelerometry-derived metrics of behaviour, including activity level, energy expenditure and swimming activity, we quantify the post-release responses and time to recovery of 19 individuals following capture and tagging activities considering the intrinsic covariates of sex and individual size and the extrinsic covariates of handling time and presence of a 'bolt-on' satellite telemetry device. From accelerometer-derived behaviour, most narwhals appeared to return to mean baseline behaviour (recovery) within 24 hours after release, which was supported by longer-term measures of diving data. None of the covariates measured, however, had an effect on the time individuals took to recover following release. Using generalized additive models to describe changes in behaviour over time, we found handling time to be a significant predictor of activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming behaviour following release. Individuals held for the longest period (>40 min) were found to display the largest effect in behaviour immediately following release with respect to swimming behaviour and activity levels. We also found some support for relationships between activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming activity and two other covariates: sex and the attachment of a bolt-on configuration satellite tags. Our results indicate that narwhals recover relatively quickly following capture, handling and tagging procedures, but we suggest that researchers should minimize handling time and further investigation is needed on how to mitigate potential effects of bolt-on satellite tags in these sensitive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Shuert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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9
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Goulet P, Guinet C, Campagna C, Campagna J, Tyack PL, Johnson M. Flash and grab: deep-diving southern elephant seals trigger anti-predator flashes in bioluminescent prey. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/10/jeb222810. [PMID: 32430464 PMCID: PMC7322542 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.222810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescence, which occurs in approximately 80% of the world's mesopelagic fauna, can take the form of a low-intensity continuous glow (e.g. for counter-illumination or signalling) or fast repetitions of brighter anti-predatory flashes. The southern elephant seal (SES) is a major consumer of mesopelagic organisms, in particular the abundant myctophid fish, yet the fine-scale relationship between this predator's foraging behaviour and bioluminescent prey remains poorly understood. We hypothesised that brief, intense light emissions should be closely connected with prey strikes when the seal is targeting bioluminescent prey that reacts by emitting anti-predator flashes. To test this, we developed a biologging device containing a fast-sampling light sensor together with location and movement sensors to measure simultaneously anti-predator bioluminescent emissions and the predator's attack motions with a 20 ms resolution. Tags were deployed on female SES breeding at Kerguelen Islands and Península Valdés, Argentina. In situ light levels in combination with duration of prey capture attempts indicated that seals were targeting a variety of prey types. For some individuals, bioluminescent flashes occurred in a large proportion of prey strikes, with the timing of flashes closely connected with the predator's attack motion, suggestive of anti-predator emissions. Marked differences across individuals and location indicate that SES do exploit bioluminescent organisms but the proportion of these in the diet varies widely with location. The combination of wideband light and acceleration data provides new insight into where and when different prey types are encountered and how effectively they might be captured. Highlighted Article: Description of a new measurement method and its successful application to deep-diving elephant seals, showing that these predators attempt to catch mesopelagic prey that react with bright anti-predator flashes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Goulet
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Christophe Guinet
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Claudio Campagna
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentina and Marine Programs, Amenábar 1595, 1426 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Campagna
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, CONICET, Boulevard Brown 2915, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Peter Lloyd Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Mark Johnson
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK .,Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Wilson RP, Williams HJ, Holton MD, di Virgilio A, Börger L, Potts JR, Gunner R, Arkwright A, Fahlman A, Bennett NC, Alagaili A, Cole NC, Duarte CM, Scantlebury DM. An "orientation sphere" visualization for examining animal head movements. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4291-4302. [PMID: 32489597 PMCID: PMC7246194 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behavior is elicited, in part, in response to external conditions, but understanding how animals perceive the environment and make the decisions that bring about these behavioral responses is challenging.Animal heads often move during specific behaviors and, additionally, typically have sensory systems (notably vision, smell, and hearing) sampling in defined arcs (normally to the front of their heads). As such, head-mounted electronic sensors consisting of accelerometers and magnetometers, which can be used to determine the movement and directionality of animal heads (where head "movement" is defined here as changes in heading [azimuth] and/or pitch [elevation angle]), can potentially provide information both on behaviors in general and also clarify which parts of the environment the animals might be prioritizing ("environmental framing").We propose a new approach to visualize the data of such head-mounted tags that combines the instantaneous outputs of head heading and pitch in a single intuitive spherical plot. This sphere has magnetic heading denoted by "longitude" position and head pitch by "latitude" on this "orientation sphere" (O-sphere).We construct the O-sphere for the head rotations of a number of vertebrates with contrasting body shape and ecology (oryx, sheep, tortoises, and turtles), illustrating various behaviors, including foraging, walking, and environmental scanning. We also propose correcting head orientations for body orientations to highlight specific heading-independent head rotation, and propose the derivation of O-sphere-metrics, such as angular speed across the sphere. This should help identify the functions of various head behaviors.Visualizations of the O-sphere provide an intuitive representation of animal behavior manifest via head orientation and rotation. This has ramifications for quantifying and understanding behaviors ranging from navigation through vigilance to feeding and, when used in tandem with body movement, should provide an important link between perception of the environment and response to it in free-ranging animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory P. Wilson
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | | | - Mark D. Holton
- Department of Computing ScienceCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Agustina di Virgilio
- Grupo de Biología de la ConservaciónLaboratorio EcotonoINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue)BarilocheArgentina
- Grupo de Ecología CuantitativaINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue)BarilocheArgentina
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Jonathan R. Potts
- School of Mathematics and StatisticsUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Richard Gunner
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Alex Arkwright
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat ValencianaValenciaSpain
| | - Andreas Fahlman
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat ValencianaValenciaSpain
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | | | - Nik C. Cole
- Mauritian Wildlife FoundationVacoasMauritius
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustJerseyChannel Islands
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research CentreKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
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11
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Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Wisniewska DM, Potvin J, Segre PS, Savoca MS, Hazen EL, Czapanskiy MF, Kahane-Rapport SR, DeRuiter SL, Gero S, Tønnesen P, Gough WT, Hanson MB, Holt MM, Jensen FH, Simon M, Stimpert AK, Arranz P, Johnston DW, Nowacek DP, Parks SE, Visser F, Friedlaender AS, Tyack PL, Madsen PT, Pyenson ND. Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants. Science 2020; 366:1367-1372. [PMID: 31831666 DOI: 10.1126/science.aax9044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The largest animals are marine filter feeders, but the underlying mechanism of their large size remains unexplained. We measured feeding performance and prey quality to demonstrate how whale gigantism is driven by the interplay of prey abundance and harvesting mechanisms that increase prey capture rates and energy intake. The foraging efficiency of toothed whales that feed on single prey is constrained by the abundance of large prey, whereas filter-feeding baleen whales seasonally exploit vast swarms of small prey at high efficiencies. Given temporally and spatially aggregated prey, filter feeding provides an evolutionary pathway to extremes in body size that are not available to lineages that must feed on one prey at a time. Maximum size in filter feeders is likely constrained by prey availability across space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
| | - D E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - D M Wisniewska
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - J Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - P S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - M S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - E L Hazen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - M F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - S R Kahane-Rapport
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - S L DeRuiter
- Mathematics and Statistics Department, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - S Gero
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - P Tønnesen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - W T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - M B Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M M Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - F H Jensen
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - M Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - A K Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, USA
| | - P Arranz
- Biodiversity, Marine Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Animal Biology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - D W Johnston
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - D P Nowacek
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - S E Parks
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - F Visser
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ and Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn, Netherlands
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - P L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - N D Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Paleontology and Geology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Götz T, Pacini AF, Nachtigall PE, Janik VM. The startle reflex in echolocating odontocetes: basic physiology and practical implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/5/jeb208470. [PMID: 32165452 PMCID: PMC7075047 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.208470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The acoustic startle reflex is an oligo-synaptic reflex arc elicited by rapid-onset sounds. Odontocetes evolved a range of specific auditory adaptations to aquatic hearing and echolocation, e.g. the ability to downregulate their auditory sensitivity when emitting clicks. However, it remains unclear whether these adaptations also led to changes of the startle reflex. We investigated reactions to startling sounds in two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and one false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). Animals were exposed to 50 ms, 1/3 octave band noise pulses of varying levels at frequencies of 1, 10, 25 and 32 kHz while positioned in a hoop station. Startle responses were quantified by measuring rapid muscle contractions using a three-dimensional accelerometer attached to the dolphin. Startle magnitude increased exponentially with increasing received levels. Startle thresholds were frequency dependent and ranged from 131 dB at 32 kHz to 153 dB at 1 kHz (re. 1 µPa). Startle thresholds only exceeded masked auditory AEP thresholds of the animals by 47 dB but were ∼82 dB above published behavioural audiograms for these species. We also tested the effect of stimulus rise time on startle magnitude using a broadband noise pulse. Startle responses decreased with increasing rise times from 2 to 100 ms. Models suggested that rise times of 141–220 ms were necessary to completely mitigate startle responses. Our data showed that the startle reflex is conserved in odontocetes and follows similar principles as in terrestrial mammals. These principles should be considered when assessing and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Summary: The acoustic startle reflex is conserved in echolocating toothed whales and should be considered when predicting marine mammal responses to human-generated underwater noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Götz
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Aude F Pacini
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Paul E Nachtigall
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Vincent M Janik
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
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13
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Barkley AN, Broell F, Pettitt‐Wade H, Watanabe YY, Marcoux M, Hussey NE. A framework to estimate the likelihood of species interactions and behavioural responses using animal‐borne acoustic telemetry transceivers and accelerometers. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:146-160. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N. Barkley
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Franziska Broell
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Harri Pettitt‐Wade
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Yuuki Y. Watanabe
- National Institute of Polar Research Tachikawa Japan
- Department of Polar Science The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI Tachikawa Japan
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Winnipeg MB Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Nigel E. Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
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14
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Tennessen JB, Holt MM, Ward EJ, Hanson MB, Emmons CK, Giles DA, Hogan JT. Hidden Markov models reveal temporal patterns and sex differences in killer whale behavior. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14951. [PMID: 31628371 PMCID: PMC6802385 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50942-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral data can be important for effective management of endangered marine predators, but can be challenging to obtain. We utilized suction cup-attached biologging tags equipped with stereo hydrophones, triaxial accelerometers, triaxial magnetometers, pressure and temperature sensors, to characterize the subsurface behavior of an endangered population of killer whales (Orcinus orca). Tags recorded depth, acoustic and movement behavior on fish-eating killer whales in the Salish Sea between 2010-2014. We tested the hypotheses that (a) distinct behavioral states can be characterized by integrating movement and acoustic variables, (b) subsurface foraging occurs in bouts, with distinct periods of searching and capture temporally separated from travel, and (c) the probabilities of transitioning between behavioral states differ by sex. Using Hidden Markov modeling of two acoustic and four movement variables, we identified five temporally distinct behavioral states. Persistence in the same state on a subsequent dive had the greatest likelihood, with the exception of deep prey pursuit, indicating that behavior was clustered in time. Additionally, females spent more time at the surface than males, and engaged in less foraging behavior. These results reveal significant complexity and sex differences in subsurface foraging behavior, and underscore the importance of incorporating behavior into the design of conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Tennessen
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA. .,Lynker Technologies, Leesburg, VA, USA.
| | - Marla M Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric J Ward
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Candice K Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deborah A Giles
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
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15
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Vander Linden A, Campbell KM, Bryar EK, Santana SE. Head‐turning morphologies: Evolution of shape diversity in the mammalian atlas–axis complex. Evolution 2019; 73:2060-2071. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Abby Vander Linden
- Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts
| | | | - Erin K. Bryar
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington
| | - Sharlene E. Santana
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Seattle Washington
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16
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Mikkelsen L, Johnson M, Wisniewska DM, van Neer A, Siebert U, Madsen PT, Teilmann J. Long-term sound and movement recording tags to study natural behavior and reaction to ship noise of seals. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2588-2601. [PMID: 30891202 PMCID: PMC6405890 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of anthropogenic noise on marine fauna is of increasing conservation concern with vessel noise being one of the major contributors. Animals that rely on shallow coastal habitats may be especially vulnerable to this form of pollution.Very limited information is available on how much noise from ship traffic individual animals experience, and how they may react to it due to a lack of suitable methods. To address this, we developed long-duration audio and 3D-movement tags (DTAGs) and deployed them on three harbor seals and two gray seals in the North Sea during 2015-2016.These tags recorded sound, accelerometry, magnetometry, and pressure continuously for up to 21 days. GPS positions were also sampled for one seal continuously throughout the recording period. A separate tag, combining a camera and an accelerometer logger, was deployed on two harbor seals to visualize specific behaviors that helped interpret accelerometer signals in the DTAG data.Combining data from depth, accelerometer, and audio sensors, we found that animals spent 6.6%-42.3% of the time hauled out (either on land or partly submerged), and 5.3%-12.4% of their at-sea time resting at the sea bottom, while the remaining time was used for traveling, resting at surface, and foraging. Animals were exposed to audible vessel noise 2.2%-20.5% of their time when in water, and we demonstrate that interruption of functional behaviors (e.g., resting) in some cases coincides with high-level vessel noise. Two-thirds of the ship noise events were traceable by the AIS vessel tracking system, while one-third comprised vessels without AIS.This preliminary study demonstrates how concomitant long-term continuous broadband on-animal sound and movement recordings may be an important tool in future quantification of disturbance effects of anthropogenic activities at sea and assessment of long-term population impacts on pinnipeds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Johnson
- Sea Mammal Research UnitUniversity of St. AndrewsSt. AndrewsUK
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
| | - Danuta Maria Wisniewska
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
- Hopkins Marine StationStanford UniversityStanfordCalifornia
| | - Abbo van Neer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW)University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverFoundationGermany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW)University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverFoundationGermany
| | - Peter Teglberg Madsen
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
- Aarhus Institute for Advanced StudiesAarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
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17
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Heerah K, Cox SL, Blevin P, Guinet C, Charrassin JB. Validation of Dive Foraging Indices Using Archived and Transmitted Acceleration Data: The Case of the Weddell Seal. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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18
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Tennessen JB, Holt MM, Hanson MB, Emmons CK, Giles DA, Hogan JT. Kinematic signatures of prey capture from archival tags reveal sex differences in killer whale foraging activity. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:222/3/jeb191874. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.191874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Studies of odontocete foraging ecology have been limited by the challenges of observing prey capture events and outcomes underwater. We sought to determine whether subsurface movement behavior recorded from archival tags could accurately identify foraging events by fish-eating killer whales. We used multisensor bio-logging tags attached by suction cups to Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) to: (1) identify a stereotyped movement signature that co-occurred with visually confirmed prey capture dives; (2) construct a prey capture dive detector and validate it against acoustically confirmed prey capture dives; and (3) demonstrate the utility of the detector by testing hypotheses about foraging ecology. Predation events were significantly predicted by peaks in the rate of change of acceleration (‘jerk peak’), roll angle and heading variance. Detection of prey capture dives by movement signatures enabled substantially more dives to be included in subsequent analyses compared with previous surface or acoustic detection methods. Males made significantly more prey capture dives than females and more dives to the depth of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon. Additionally, only half of the tag deployments on females (5 out of 10) included a prey capture dive, whereas all tag deployments on males exhibited at least one prey capture dive (12 out of 12). This dual approach of kinematic detection of prey capture coupled with hypothesis testing can be applied across odontocetes and other marine predators to investigate the impacts of social, environmental and anthropogenic factors on foraging ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B. Tennessen
- Lynker Technologies LLC, Leesburg, VA 20175, USA
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Marla M. Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - M. Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Candice K. Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Deborah A. Giles
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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19
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Wisniewska DM, Johnson M, Teilmann J, Siebert U, Galatius A, Dietz R, Madsen PT. High rates of vessel noise disrupt foraging in wild harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena). Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2314. [PMID: 29445018 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Shipping is the dominant marine anthropogenic noise source in the world's oceans, yet we know little about vessel encounter rates, exposure levels and behavioural reactions for cetaceans in the wild, many of which rely on sound for foraging, communication and social interactions. Here, we used animal-borne acoustic tags to measure vessel noise exposure and foraging efforts in seven harbour porpoises in highly trafficked coastal waters. Tagged porpoises encountered vessel noise 17-89% of the time and occasional high-noise levels coincided with vigorous fluking, bottom diving, interrupted foraging and even cessation of echolocation, leading to significantly fewer prey capture attempts at received levels greater than 96 dB re 1 µPa (16 kHz third-octave). If such exposures occur frequently, porpoises, which have high metabolic requirements, may be unable to compensate energetically with negative long-term fitness consequences. That shipping noise disrupts foraging in the high-frequency-hearing porpoise raises concerns that other toothed whale species may also be affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Maria Wisniewska
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark .,Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Mark Johnson
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Jonas Teilmann
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buesum, Germany
| | - Anders Galatius
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Teglberg Madsen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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20
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Wilson RP, Holton MD, Virgilio A, Williams H, Shepard ELC, Lambertucci S, Quintana F, Sala JE, Balaji B, Lee ES, Srivastava M, Scantlebury DM, Duarte CM. Give the machine a hand: A Boolean time‐based decision‐tree template for rapidly finding animal behaviours in multisensor data. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rory P. Wilson
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea University Swansea UK
| | - Mark D. Holton
- Department of Computing ScienceCollege of ScienceSwansea University Swansea UK
| | - Agustina Virgilio
- Grupo de Biología de la ConservaciónLaboratorio EcotonoINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue) Bariloche Argentina
- Grupo de Ecología CuantitativaINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue) Bariloche Argentina
| | - Hannah Williams
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea University Swansea UK
| | | | - Sergio Lambertucci
- Grupo de Biología de la ConservaciónLaboratorio EcotonoINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue) Bariloche Argentina
| | - Flavio Quintana
- Instituto de Biologia de Organismos Marinos IBIOMAR‐CONICET (9120) Puerto Madryn Chubut Argentina
| | - Juan E. Sala
- Instituto de Biologia de Organismos Marinos IBIOMAR‐CONICET (9120) Puerto Madryn Chubut Argentina
| | - Bharathan Balaji
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles California
| | - Eun Sun Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles California
| | - Mani Srivastava
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles California
| | - D. Michael Scantlebury
- School of Biological SciencesInstitute for Global Food SecurityQueen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research CentreKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal Saudi Arabia
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21
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Sørensen PM, Wisniewska DM, Jensen FH, Johnson M, Teilmann J, Madsen PT. Click communication in wild harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Sci Rep 2018; 8:9702. [PMID: 29946073 PMCID: PMC6018799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Social delphinids employ a vocal repertoire of clicks for echolocation and whistles for communication. Conversely, the less social and acoustically cryptic harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) only produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) clicks with properties that appear poorly suited for communication. Nevertheless, these small odontocetes likely mediate social interactions, such as mate choice and mother-calf contact, with sound. Here, we deployed six tags (DTAG3) on wild porpoises in Danish waters for a total of 96 hours to investigate if the patterns and use of stereotyped NBHF click trains are consistent with a communication function. We show that wild porpoises produce frequent (up to 27 • min-1), high-repetition rate click series with repetition rates and output levels different from those of foraging buzzes. These sounds are produced in bouts and frequently co-occur with emission of similar sounds by nearby conspecifics, audible on the tags for >10% of the time. These results suggest that social interactions are more important to this species than their limited social encounters at the surface may indicate and that these interactions are mediated by at least two broad categories of calls composed of short, high-repetition rate click trains that may encode information via the repetition rate of their stereotyped NBHF clicks.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Sørensen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - D M Wisniewska
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, USA
| | - F H Jensen
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6b, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - M Johnson
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, United Kingdom
| | - J Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6b, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
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22
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Hughey LF, Hein AM, Strandburg-Peshkin A, Jensen FH. Challenges and solutions for studying collective animal behaviour in the wild. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170005. [PMID: 29581390 PMCID: PMC5882975 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile animal groups provide some of the most compelling examples of self-organization in the natural world. While field observations of songbird flocks wheeling in the sky or anchovy schools fleeing from predators have inspired considerable interest in the mechanics of collective motion, the challenge of simultaneously monitoring multiple animals in the field has historically limited our capacity to study collective behaviour of wild animal groups with precision. However, recent technological advancements now present exciting opportunities to overcome many of these limitations. Here we review existing methods used to collect data on the movements and interactions of multiple animals in a natural setting. We then survey emerging technologies that are poised to revolutionize the study of collective animal behaviour by extending the spatial and temporal scales of inquiry, increasing data volume and quality, and expediting the post-processing of raw data.This article is part of the theme issue 'Collective movement ecology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey F Hughey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Andrew M Hein
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frants H Jensen
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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23
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24
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Cox SL, Orgeret F, Gesta M, Rodde C, Heizer I, Weimerskirch H, Guinet C, O'Hara RB. Processing of acceleration and dive data on-board satellite relay tags to investigate diving and foraging behaviour in free-ranging marine predators. Methods Ecol Evol 2018; 9:64-77. [PMID: 29456829 PMCID: PMC5812097 DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biologging technologies are changing the way in which the marine environment is observed and monitored. However, because device retrieval is typically required to access the high-resolution data they collect, their use is generally restricted to those animals that predictably return to land. Data abstraction and transmission techniques aim to address this, although currently these are limited in scope and do not incorporate, for example, acceleration measurements which can quantify animal behaviours and movement patterns over fine-scales.In this study, we present a new method for the collection, abstraction and transmission of accelerometer data from free-ranging marine predators via the Argos satellite system. We test run the technique on 20 juvenile southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina from the Kerguelen Islands during their first months at sea following weaning. Using retrieved archival data from nine individuals that returned to the colony, we compare and validate abstracted transmissions against outputs from established accelerometer processing procedures.Abstracted transmissions included estimates, across five segments of a dive profile, of time spent in prey catch attempt (PrCA) behaviours, swimming effort and pitch. These were then summarised and compared to archival outputs across three dive phases: descent, bottom and ascent. Correlations between the two datasets were variable but generally good (dependent on dive phase, marginal R2 values of between .45 and .6 to >.9) and consistent between individuals. Transmitted estimates of PrCA behaviours and swimming effort were positively biased to those from archival processing.Data from this study represent some of the first remotely transmitted quantifications from accelerometers. The methods presented and analysed can be used to provide novel insight towards the behaviours and movements of free-ranging marine predators, such as juvenile southern elephant seals, from whom logger retrieval is challenging. Future applications could however benefit from some adaption, particularly to reduce positive bias in transmitted PrCA behaviours and swimming effort, for which this study provides useful insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam L. Cox
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Florian Orgeret
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Mathieu Gesta
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Charles Rodde
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | | | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
| | - Christophe Guinet
- Centre d'Etudes Biologique de ChizéU.M.R. 7372 – CNRS & Universitié de La RochelleVilliers‐en‐BoisFrance
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25
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Videsen SKA, Bejder L, Johnson M, Madsen PT. High suckling rates and acoustic crypsis of humpback whale neonates maximise potential for mother–calf energy transfer. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone K. A. Videsen
- Zoophysiology Department of Bioscience Faculty of Science and Technology Aarhus University Aarhus 8000 Denmark
| | - Lars Bejder
- Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University Perth WA Australia
| | - Mark Johnson
- Zoophysiology Department of Bioscience Faculty of Science and Technology Aarhus University Aarhus 8000 Denmark
- Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews FifeKY16 8LB UK
| | - Peter T. Madsen
- Zoophysiology Department of Bioscience Faculty of Science and Technology Aarhus University Aarhus 8000 Denmark
- Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University Perth WA Australia
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26
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Wilson K, Littnan C, Halpin P, Read A. Integrating multiple technologies to understand the foraging behaviour of Hawaiian monk seals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160703. [PMID: 28405358 PMCID: PMC5383815 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this research was to investigate and describe the foraging behaviour of monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands. Specifically, our goal was to identify a metric to classify foraging behaviour from telemetry instruments. We deployed accelerometers, seal-mounted cameras and GPS tags on six monk seals during 2012-2014 on the islands of Molokai, Kauai and Oahu. We used pitch, calculated from the accelerometer, to identify search events and thus classify foraging dives. A search event and consequent 'foraging dive' occurred when the pitch was greater than or equal to 70° at a depth less than or equal to -3 m. By integrating data from the accelerometers with video and GPS, we were able to ground-truth this classification method and identify environmental variables associated with each foraging dive. We used Bayesian logistic regression to identify the variables that influenced search events. Dive depth, body motion (mean overall dynamic body acceleration during the dive) and proximity to the sea floor were the best predictors of search events for these seals. Search events typically occurred on long, deep dives, with more time spent at the bottom (more than 50% bottom time). We can now identify where monk seals are foraging in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) and what covariates influence foraging behaviour in this region. This increased understanding will inform management strategies and supplement outreach and recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenady Wilson
- Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
- Author for correspondence: Kenady Wilson e-mail:
| | - Charles Littnan
- Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Patrick Halpin
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Andrew Read
- Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
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27
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Wilson K, Littnan C, Halpin P, Read A. Integrating multiple technologies to understand the foraging behaviour of Hawaiian monk seals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160703. [PMID: 28405358 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.s0b80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this research was to investigate and describe the foraging behaviour of monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands. Specifically, our goal was to identify a metric to classify foraging behaviour from telemetry instruments. We deployed accelerometers, seal-mounted cameras and GPS tags on six monk seals during 2012-2014 on the islands of Molokai, Kauai and Oahu. We used pitch, calculated from the accelerometer, to identify search events and thus classify foraging dives. A search event and consequent 'foraging dive' occurred when the pitch was greater than or equal to 70° at a depth less than or equal to -3 m. By integrating data from the accelerometers with video and GPS, we were able to ground-truth this classification method and identify environmental variables associated with each foraging dive. We used Bayesian logistic regression to identify the variables that influenced search events. Dive depth, body motion (mean overall dynamic body acceleration during the dive) and proximity to the sea floor were the best predictors of search events for these seals. Search events typically occurred on long, deep dives, with more time spent at the bottom (more than 50% bottom time). We can now identify where monk seals are foraging in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) and what covariates influence foraging behaviour in this region. This increased understanding will inform management strategies and supplement outreach and recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenady Wilson
- Duke University Marine Lab , 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516 , USA
| | - Charles Littnan
- Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center , 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 , USA
| | - Patrick Halpin
- Nicholas School of the Environment , Duke University , 9 Circuit Drive, Durham, NC 27708 , USA
| | - Andrew Read
- Duke University Marine Lab , 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516 , USA
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28
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Cade DE, Barr KR, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA. Determining forward speed from accelerometer jiggle in aquatic environments. J Exp Biol 2017; 221:jeb.170449. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.170449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
How fast animals move is critical to understanding their energetic requirements, locomotor capacity, and foraging performance, yet current methods for measuring speed via animal-attached devices are not universally applicable. Here we present and evaluate a new method that relates forward speed to the stochastic motion of biologging devices since tag jiggle, the amplitude of the tag vibrations as measured by high sample rate accelerometers, increases exponentially with increasing speed. We successfully tested this method in a flow tank using two types of biologging devices and tested the method in situ on wild cetaceans spanning ∼3 to >20 m in length using two types of suction cup-attached and two types of dart-attached tag. This technique provides some advantages over other approaches for determining speed as it is device-orientation independent and relies only on a pressure sensor and a high sample rate accelerometer, sensors that are nearly universal across biologging device types.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Kelly R. Barr
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
- Present address: Center for Tropical Research, Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - John Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
- Present address: Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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29
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Ladds MA, Thompson AP, Slip DJ, Hocking DP, Harcourt RG. Seeing It All: Evaluating Supervised Machine Learning Methods for the Classification of Diverse Otariid Behaviours. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166898. [PMID: 28002450 PMCID: PMC5176164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Constructing activity budgets for marine animals when they are at sea and cannot be directly observed is challenging, but recent advances in bio-logging technology offer solutions to this problem. Accelerometers can potentially identify a wide range of behaviours for animals based on unique patterns of acceleration. However, when analysing data derived from accelerometers, there are many statistical techniques available which when applied to different data sets produce different classification accuracies. We investigated a selection of supervised machine learning methods for interpreting behavioural data from captive otariids (fur seals and sea lions). We conducted controlled experiments with 12 seals, where their behaviours were filmed while they were wearing 3-axis accelerometers. From video we identified 26 behaviours that could be grouped into one of four categories (foraging, resting, travelling and grooming) representing key behaviour states for wild seals. We used data from 10 seals to train four predictive classification models: stochastic gradient boosting (GBM), random forests, support vector machine using four different kernels and a baseline model: penalised logistic regression. We then took the best parameters from each model and cross-validated the results on the two seals unseen so far. We also investigated the influence of feature statistics (describing some characteristic of the seal), testing the models both with and without these. Cross-validation accuracies were lower than training accuracy, but the SVM with a polynomial kernel was still able to classify seal behaviour with high accuracy (>70%). Adding feature statistics improved accuracies across all models tested. Most categories of behaviour -resting, grooming and feeding—were all predicted with reasonable accuracy (52–81%) by the SVM while travelling was poorly categorised (31–41%). These results show that model selection is important when classifying behaviour and that by using animal characteristics we can strengthen the overall accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique A. Ladds
- Marine Predator Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Adam P. Thompson
- Digital Network, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David J. Slip
- Marine Predator Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David P. Hocking
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Geosciences, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Robert G. Harcourt
- Marine Predator Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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30
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Leos‐Barajas V, Photopoulou T, Langrock R, Patterson TA, Watanabe YY, Murgatroyd M, Papastamatiou YP. Analysis of animal accelerometer data using hidden Markov models. Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vianey Leos‐Barajas
- Department of Statistics Iowa State University Snedecor Hall Ames IA 50011 USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Department of Statistical Sciences Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation University of Cape Town Cape Town Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- Department of Zoology Institute for Coastal and Marine Research Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth 6031 South Africa
| | - Roland Langrock
- Department of Business Administration and Economics Bielefeld University Postfach 100131 33501 Bielefeld Germany
| | | | - Yuuki Y. Watanabe
- National Institute of Polar Research 10‐3, Midori‐cho Tachikawa Tokyo 190‐8518 Japan
- SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies) 10‐3, Midori‐cho Tachikawa Tokyo 190‐8518 Japan
| | - Megan Murgatroyd
- Animal Demography Unit Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Yannis P. Papastamatiou
- School of Biology Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 8LB UK
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 3000 NE 151st, MSB 350 North Miami FL 33181 USA
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31
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Bestley S, Jonsen I, Harcourt RG, Hindell MA, Gales NJ. Putting the behavior into animal movement modeling: Improved activity budgets from use of ancillary tag information. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8243-8255. [PMID: 27878092 PMCID: PMC5108274 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal movement research relies on biotelemetry, and telemetry-based locations are increasingly augmented with ancillary information. This presents an underutilized opportunity to enhance movement process models. Given tags designed to record specific behaviors, efforts are increasing to update movement models beyond reliance solely upon horizontal movement information to improve inference of space use and activity budgets. We present two state-space models adapted to incorporate ancillary data to inform three discrete movement states: directed, resident, and an activity state. These were developed for two case studies: (1) a "haulout" model for Weddell seals, and (2) an "activity" model for Antarctic fur seals which intersperse periods of diving activity and inactivity. The methodology is easily implementable with any ancillary data that can be expressed as a proportion (or binary) indicator. A comparison of the models augmented with ancillary information and unaugmented models confirmed that many behavioral states appeared mischaracterized in the latter. Important changes in subsequent activity budgets occurred. Haulout accounted for 0.17 of the overall Weddell seal time budget, with the estimated proportion of time spent in a resident state reduced from a posterior median of 0.69 (0.65-0.73; 95% HPDI) to 0.54 (0.50-0.58 HPDI). The drop was more dramatic in the Antarctic fur seal case, from 0.57 (0.52-0.63 HPDI) to 0.22 (0.20-0.25 HPDI), with 0.35 (0.31-0.39 HPDI) of time spent in the inactive (nondiving) state. These findings reinforce previously raised contentions about the drawbacks of behavioral states inferred solely from horizontal movements. Our findings have implications for assessing habitat requirements; estimating energetics and consumption; and management efforts such as mitigating fisheries interactions. Combining multiple sources of information within integrated frameworks should improve inference of relationships between movement decisions and fitness, the interplay between resource and habitat dependencies, and their changes at the population and landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bestley
- Australian Antarctic Division Department of Environment Kingston Tas. Australia; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Ian Jonsen
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Robert G Harcourt
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Nicholas J Gales
- Australian Antarctic Division Department of Environment Kingston Tas. Australia
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32
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Allen AN, Goldbogen JA, Friedlaender AS, Calambokidis J. Development of an automated method of detecting stereotyped feeding events in multisensor data from tagged rorqual whales. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7522-7535. [PMID: 28725418 PMCID: PMC5513260 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of animal‐borne, multisensor tags has opened up many opportunities for ecological research, making previously inaccessible species and behaviors observable. The advancement of tag technology and the increasingly widespread use of bio‐logging tags are leading to large volumes of sometimes extremely detailed data. With the increasing quantity and duration of tag deployments, a set of tools needs to be developed to aid in facilitating and standardizing the analysis of movement sensor data. Here, we developed an observation‐based decision tree method to detect feeding events in data from multisensor movement tags attached to fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Fin whales exhibit an energetically costly and kinematically complex foraging behavior called lunge feeding, an intermittent ram filtration mechanism. Using this automated system, we identified feeding lunges in 19 fin whales tagged with multisensor tags, during a total of over 100 h of continuously sampled data. Using movement sensor and hydrophone data, the automated lunge detector correctly identified an average of 92.8% of all lunges, with a false‐positive rate of 9.5%. The strong performance of our automated feeding detector demonstrates an effective, straightforward method of activity identification in animal‐borne movement tag data. Our method employs a detection algorithm that utilizes a hierarchy of simple thresholds based on knowledge of observed features of feeding behavior, a technique that is readily modifiable to fit a variety of species and behaviors. Using automated methods to detect behavioral events in tag records will significantly decrease data analysis time and aid in standardizing analysis methods, crucial objectives with the rapidly increasing quantity and variety of on‐animal tag data. Furthermore, our results have implications for next‐generation tag design, especially long‐term tags that can be outfitted with on‐board processing algorithms that automatically detect kinematic events and transmit ethograms via acoustic or satellite telemetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann N Allen
- Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia Washington 98501
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove California 93950
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Marine Mammal Institute Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University Newport Oregon 97365
| | - John Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia Washington 98501
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33
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Arranz P, DeRuiter SL, Stimpert AK, Neves S, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Visser F, Calambokidis J, Southall BL, Tyack PL. Discrimination of fast click-series produced by tagged Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) for echolocation or communication. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:2898-2907. [PMID: 27401759 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.144295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Early studies that categorized odontocete pulsed sounds had few means of discriminating signals used for biosonar-based foraging from those used for communication. This capability to identify the function of sounds is important for understanding and interpreting behavior; it is also essential for monitoring and mitigating potential disturbance from human activities. Archival tags were placed on free-ranging Grampus griseus to quantify and discriminate between pulsed sounds used for echolocation-based foraging and those used for communication. Two types of rapid click-series pulsed sounds, buzzes and burst pulses, were identified as produced by the tagged dolphins and classified using a Gaussian mixture model based on their duration, association with jerk (i.e. rapid change of acceleration) and temporal association with click trains. Buzzes followed regular echolocation clicks and coincided with a strong jerk signal from accelerometers on the tag. They consisted of series averaging 359±210 clicks (mean±s.d.) with an increasing repetition rate and relatively low amplitude. Burst pulses consisted of relatively short click series averaging 45±54 clicks with decreasing repetition rate and longer inter-click interval that were less likely to be associated with regular echolocation and the jerk signal. These results suggest that the longer, relatively lower amplitude, jerk-associated buzzes are used in this species to capture prey, mostly during the bottom phase of foraging dives, as seen in other odontocetes. In contrast, the shorter, isolated burst pulses that are generally emitted by the dolphins while at or near the surface are used outside of a direct, known foraging context.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Arranz
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - S L DeRuiter
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LZ, UK Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
| | - A K Stimpert
- Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - S Neves
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97635, USA
| | - J A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - F Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn 1624 CJ, The Netherlands Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden 2311, The Netherlands
| | | | - B L Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Aptos, CA 95003, USA University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - P L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
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34
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Fais A, Johnson M, Wilson M, Aguilar Soto N, Madsen PT. Sperm whale predator-prey interactions involve chasing and buzzing, but no acoustic stunning. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28562. [PMID: 27340122 PMCID: PMC4919788 DOI: 10.1038/srep28562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The sperm whale carries a hypertrophied nose that generates powerful clicks for long-range echolocation. However, it remains a conundrum how this bizarrely shaped apex predator catches its prey. Several hypotheses have been advanced to propose both active and passive means to acquire prey, including acoustic debilitation of prey with very powerful clicks. Here we test these hypotheses by using sound and movement recording tags in a fine-scale study of buzz sequences to relate the acoustic behaviour of sperm whales with changes in acceleration in their head region during prey capture attempts. We show that in the terminal buzz phase, sperm whales reduce inter-click intervals and estimated source levels by 1-2 orders of magnitude. As a result, received levels at the prey are more than an order of magnitude below levels required for debilitation, precluding acoustic stunning to facilitate prey capture. Rather, buzzing involves high-frequency, low amplitude clicks well suited to provide high-resolution biosonar updates during the last stages of capture. The high temporal resolution helps to guide motor patterns during occasionally prolonged chases in which prey are eventually subdued with the aid of fast jaw movements and/or buccal suction as indicated by acceleration transients (jerks) near the end of buzzes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fais
- BIOECOMAC. Dept. of Animal Biology, La Laguna University, Spain.,Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - M Johnson
- Scottish Ocean Institute, University of St. Andrews, Scotland
| | - M Wilson
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Denmark.,Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - N Aguilar Soto
- BIOECOMAC. Dept. of Animal Biology, La Laguna University, Spain.,CREEM, University of St. Andrews, Scotland
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Denmark.,Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
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35
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Wisniewska D, Johnson M, Teilmann J, Rojano-Doñate L, Shearer J, Sveegaard S, Miller L, Siebert U, Madsen P. Ultra-High Foraging Rates of Harbor Porpoises Make Them Vulnerable to Anthropogenic Disturbance. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1441-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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High sea surface temperatures driven by a strengthening current reduce foraging success by penguins. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22236. [PMID: 26923901 PMCID: PMC4770590 DOI: 10.1038/srep22236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The world’s oceans are undergoing rapid, regionally specific warming. Strengthening western boundary currents play a role in this phenomenon, with sea surface temperatures (SST) in their paths rising faster than the global average. To understand how dynamic oceanography influences food availability in these ocean warming “hotspots”, we use a novel prey capture signature derived from accelerometry to understand how the warm East Australian Current shapes foraging success by a meso-predator, the little penguin. This seabird feeds on low trophic level species that are sensitive to environmental change. We found that in 2012, prey capture success by penguins was high when SST was low relative to the long-term mean. In 2013 prey capture success was low, coincident with an unusually strong penetration of warm water. Overall there was an optimal temperature range for prey capture around 19–21 °C, with lower success at both lower and higher temperatures, mirroring published relationships between commercial sardine catch and SST. Spatially, higher SSTs corresponded to a lower probability of penguins using an area, and lower prey capture success. These links between high SST and reduced prey capture success by penguins suggest negative implications for future resource availability in a system dominated by a strengthening western boundary current.
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Volpov BL, Rosen DAS, Hoskins AJ, Lourie HJ, Dorville N, Baylis AMM, Wheatley KE, Marshall G, Abernathy K, Semmens J, Hindell MA, Arnould JPY. Dive characteristics can predict foraging success in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) as validated by animal-borne video. Biol Open 2016; 5:262-71. [PMID: 26873950 PMCID: PMC4810750 DOI: 10.1242/bio.016659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dive characteristics and dive shape are often used to infer foraging success in pinnipeds. However, these inferences have not been directly validated in the field with video, and it remains unclear if this method can be applied to benthic foraging animals. This study assessed the ability of dive characteristics from time-depth recorders (TDR) to predict attempted prey capture events (APC) that were directly observed on animal-borne video in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, n=11). The most parsimonious model predicting the probability of a dive with ≥1 APC on video included only descent rate as a predictor variable. The majority (94%) of the 389 total APC were successful, and the majority of the dives (68%) contained at least one successful APC. The best model predicting these successful dives included descent rate as a predictor. Comparisons of the TDR model predictions to video yielded a maximum accuracy of 77.5% in classifying dives as either APC or non-APC or 77.1% in classifying dives as successful verses unsuccessful. Foraging intensity, measured as either total APC per dive or total successful APC per dive, was best predicted by bottom duration and ascent rate. The accuracy in predicting total APC per dive varied based on the number of APC per dive with maximum accuracy occurring at 1 APC for both total (54%) and only successful APC (52%). Results from this study linking verified foraging dives to dive characteristics potentially opens the door to decades of historical TDR datasets across several otariid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth L Volpov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - David A S Rosen
- Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Andrew J Hoskins
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Holly J Lourie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Nicole Dorville
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Alastair M M Baylis
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Kathryn E Wheatley
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Greg Marshall
- Remote Imaging Department, National Geographic, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Kyler Abernathy
- Remote Imaging Department, National Geographic, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Jayson Semmens
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - John P Y Arnould
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
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Carter MID, Bennett KA, Embling CB, Hosegood PJ, Russell DJF. Navigating uncertain waters: a critical review of inferring foraging behaviour from location and dive data in pinnipeds. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2016; 4:25. [PMID: 27800161 PMCID: PMC5080796 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In the last thirty years, the emergence and progression of biologging technology has led to great advances in marine predator ecology. Large databases of location and dive observations from biologging devices have been compiled for an increasing number of diving predator species (such as pinnipeds, sea turtles, seabirds and cetaceans), enabling complex questions about animal activity budgets and habitat use to be addressed. Central to answering these questions is our ability to correctly identify and quantify the frequency of essential behaviours, such as foraging. Despite technological advances that have increased the quality and resolution of location and dive data, accurately interpreting behaviour from such data remains a challenge, and analytical methods are only beginning to unlock the full potential of existing datasets. This review evaluates both traditional and emerging methods and presents a starting platform of options for future studies of marine predator foraging ecology, particularly from location and two-dimensional (time-depth) dive data. We outline the different devices and data types available, discuss the limitations and advantages of commonly-used analytical techniques, and highlight key areas for future research. We focus our review on pinnipeds - one of the most studied taxa of marine predators - but offer insights that will be applicable to other air-breathing marine predator tracking studies. We highlight that traditionally-used methods for inferring foraging from location and dive data, such as first-passage time and dive shape analysis, have important caveats and limitations depending on the nature of the data and the research question. We suggest that more holistic statistical techniques, such as state-space models, which can synthesise multiple track, dive and environmental metrics whilst simultaneously accounting for measurement error, offer more robust alternatives. Finally, we identify a need for more research to elucidate the role of physical oceanography, device effects, study animal selection, and developmental stages in predator behaviour and data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Ian Daniel Carter
- Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, School of Marine Science & Engineering, Plymouth University, PL4 8AA Plymouth, UK
| | - Kimberley A. Bennett
- School of Science, Engineering & Technology, Abertay University, DD1 1HG Dundee, UK
| | - Clare B. Embling
- Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, School of Marine Science & Engineering, Plymouth University, PL4 8AA Plymouth, UK
| | - Philip J. Hosegood
- Centre for Coast and Ocean Science & Engineering, School of Marine Science & Engineering, Plymouth University, PL4 8AA Plymouth, UK
| | - Debbie J. F. Russell
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, KY16 8LB St. Andrews, UK
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St. Andrews, KY16 9LZ St. Andrews, UK
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39
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Volpov BL, Hoskins AJ, Battaile BC, Viviant M, Wheatley KE, Marshall G, Abernathy K, Arnould JPY. Identification of Prey Captures in Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) Using Head-Mounted Accelerometers: Field Validation with Animal-Borne Video Cameras. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128789. [PMID: 26107647 PMCID: PMC4479472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated prey captures in free-ranging adult female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) using head-mounted 3-axis accelerometers and animal-borne video cameras. Acceleration data was used to identify individual attempted prey captures (APC), and video data were used to independently verify APC and prey types. Results demonstrated that head-mounted accelerometers could detect individual APC but were unable to distinguish among prey types (fish, cephalopod, stingray) or between successful captures and unsuccessful capture attempts. Mean detection rate (true positive rate) on individual animals in the testing subset ranged from 67-100%, and mean detection on the testing subset averaged across 4 animals ranged from 82-97%. Mean False positive (FP) rate ranged from 15-67% individually in the testing subset, and 26-59% averaged across 4 animals. Surge and sway had significantly greater detection rates, but also conversely greater FP rates compared to heave. Video data also indicated that some head movements recorded by the accelerometers were unrelated to APC and that a peak in acceleration variance did not always equate to an individual prey item. The results of the present study indicate that head-mounted accelerometers provide a complementary tool for investigating foraging behaviour in pinnipeds, but that detection and FP correction factors need to be applied for reliable field application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth L. Volpov
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Andrew J. Hoskins
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brian C. Battaile
- University of British Columbia, Marine Mammal Research Unit, Fisheries Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Morgane Viviant
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chize', Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Kathryn E. Wheatley
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Greg Marshall
- National Geographic, Remote Imaging Department, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Kyler Abernathy
- National Geographic, Remote Imaging Department, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - John P. Y. Arnould
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
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40
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Marshall CD, Rosen D, Trites AW. Feeding kinematics and performance of basal otariid pinnipeds, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus): implications for the evolution of mammalian feeding. J Exp Biol 2015; 218:3229-40. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.126573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Feeding performance studies can address questions relevant to feeding ecology and evolution. Our current understanding of feeding mechanisms for aquatic mammals is poor. Therefore, we characterized the feeding kinematics and performance of 5 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and 6 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). We tested the hypotheses that both species use suction as their primary feeding mode, and that rapid jaw opening was related to suction generation. Steller sea lions used suction as their primary feeding mode, but also used a biting feeding mode. In contrast, Northern fur seals only used a biting feeding mode. Kinematic profiles of Steller sea lions were all indicative of suction feeding (i.e., a small gape, small gape angle, large depression of the hyolingual apparatus and lip pursing). However, jaw opening as measured by Gape Angle Opening Velocity (GAOV) was relatively slow in Steller sea lions. In contrast to Steller sea lions, the GAOV of Northern fur seals was extremely fast, but their kinematic profiles indicated a biting feeding mode (i.e., northern fur seals exhibited a greater gape, a greater gape angle, and minimal depression of the hyolingual apparatus compared to Steller sea lions). Steller sea lions produced both subambient and suprambient pressures at 45 kPa, respectively. In contrast, northern fur seals produced no detectable pressure measurements. Steller sea lions have a broader feeding repertoire than northern fur seals, which likely enables them to feed on a greater variety of prey, in more diverse habitats. Based on the basal phylogenetic position of northern fur seals, craniodental morphological data of the Callorhinus lineage, and the performance data provided in this study, we suggest that a northern fur seals may be exhibiting their ancestral feeding mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Marshall
- Texas A&M University, Department of Marine Biology, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
- Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, College Station, TX 77840, USA
| | - David Rosen
- Marine Mammal Research Unit,
Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Andrew W. Trites
- Marine Mammal Research Unit,
Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
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41
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Wisniewska DM, Johnson M, Nachtigall PE, Madsen PT. Buzzing during biosonar-based interception of prey in the delphinids Tursiops truncatus and Pseudorca crassidens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:4279-82. [PMID: 25394631 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.113415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Echolocating bats and toothed whales probe their environment with ultrasonic sound pulses, using returning echoes to navigate and find prey in a process that appears to have resulted from a remarkable convergence of the two taxa. Here, we report the first detailed quantification of echolocation behaviour during prey capture in the most studied delphinid species, a false killer whale and a bottlenose dolphin. Using acoustic DTAGs, we demonstrate that just prior to prey interception these delphinids change their acoustic gaze dramatically by reducing inter-click intervals and output >10-fold in a high repetition rate, low output buzz. Buzz click rates of 250-500 Hz for large but agile animals suggest that sampling rates during capture are scaled with the whale's manoeuvrability. These observations support the growing notion that fast sonar sampling accompanied by a low output level is critical for high rate feedback to inform motor patterns during prey interception in all echolocating toothed whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta M Wisniewska
- Marine Mammal Research, Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde DK-4000, Denmark. Zoophysiology, Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark.
| | - Mark Johnson
- Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | | | - Peter T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark
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42
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Carroll G, Slip D, Jonsen I, Harcourt R. Supervised accelerometry analysis can identify prey capture by penguins at sea. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:4295-302. [PMID: 25394635 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.113076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Determining where, when and how much animals eat is fundamental to understanding their ecology. We developed a technique to identify a prey capture signature for little penguins from accelerometry, in order to quantify food intake remotely. We categorised behaviour of captive penguins from HD video and matched this to time-series data from back-mounted accelerometers. We then trained a support vector machine (SVM) to classify the penguins' behaviour at 0.3 s intervals as either 'prey handling' or 'swimming'. We applied this model to accelerometer data collected from foraging wild penguins to identify prey capture events. We compared prey capture and non-prey capture dives to test the model predictions against foraging theory. The SVM had an accuracy of 84.95±0.26% (mean ± s.e.) and a false positive rate of 9.82±0.24% when tested on unseen captive data. For wild data, we defined three independent, consecutive prey handling observations as representing true prey capture, with a false positive rate of 0.09%. Dives with prey captures had longer duration and bottom times, were deeper, had faster ascent rates, and had more 'wiggles' and 'dashes' (proxies for prey encounter used in other studies). The mean (±s.e.) number of prey captures per foraging trip was 446.6±66.28. By recording the behaviour of captive animals on HD video and using a supervised machine learning approach, we show that accelerometry signatures can classify the behaviour of wild animals at unprecedentedly fine scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Carroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - David Slip
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, Sydney, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Ian Jonsen
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, Sydney, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Rob Harcourt
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, Sydney, NSW 2088, Australia
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43
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Hocking DP, Salverson M, Fitzgerald EMG, Evans AR. Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) use raptorial biting and suction feeding when targeting prey in different foraging scenarios. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112521. [PMID: 25390347 PMCID: PMC4229231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging behaviours used by two female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) were documented during controlled feeding trials. During these trials the seals were presented with prey either free-floating in open water or concealed within a mobile ball or a static box feeding device. When targeting free-floating prey both subjects primarily used raptorial biting in combination with suction, which was used to draw prey to within range of the teeth. When targeting prey concealed within either the mobile or static feeding device, the seals were able to use suction to draw out prey items that could not be reached by biting. Suction was followed by lateral water expulsion, where water drawn into the mouth along with the prey item was purged via the sides of the mouth. Vibrissae were used to explore the surface of the feeding devices, especially when locating the openings in which the prey items had been hidden. The mobile ball device was also manipulated by pushing it with the muzzle to knock out concealed prey, which was not possible when using the static feeding device. To knock prey out of this static device one seal used targeted bubble blowing, where a focused stream of bubbles was blown out of the nose into the openings in the device. Once captured in the jaws, prey items were manipulated and re-oriented using further mouth movements or chews so that they could be swallowed head first. While most items were swallowed whole underwater, some were instead taken to the surface and held in the teeth, while being vigorously shaken to break them into smaller pieces before swallowing. The behavioural flexibility displayed by Australian fur seals likely assists in capturing and consuming the extremely wide range of prey types that are targeted in the wild, during both benthic and epipelagic foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Hocking
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Geosciences, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Wild Sea Precinct, Zoos Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Marcia Salverson
- Wild Sea Precinct, Zoos Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Alistair R. Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Geosciences, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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