Marine mammals trace anthropogenic structures at sea
Russell, D.J.F.; Brasseur, S.M.J.M.; Thompson, D.; Hastie, G.; Janik, V.M.; Aarts, G.; McClintock, B.T.; Matthiopoulos, J.; Moss, S.E.W.; McConnell, B. (2014). Marine mammals trace anthropogenic structures at sea. Curr. Biol. 24(14): R638–R639. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.033 In: Current Biology. Cell Press: London. ISSN 0960-9822; e-ISSN 1879-0445, more |  |
| Keywords | Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791) [WoRMS]; Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - Russell, D.J.F.
- Brasseur, S.M.J.M., more
- Thompson, D.
- Hastie, G.
| - Janik, V.M.
- Aarts, G.
- McClintock, B.T.
| - Matthiopoulos, J.
- Moss, S.E.W.
- McConnell, B.
|
| Abstract | On land, species from all trophic levels have adapted to fill vacant niches in environments heavily modified by humans (e.g. [1] ). In the marine environment, ocean infrastructure has led to artificial reefs, resulting in localized increases in fish and crustacean density [2] . Whether marine apex predators exhibit behavioural adaptations to utilise such a scattered potential resource is unknown. Using high resolution GPS data we show how infrastructure, including wind turbines and pipelines, shapes the movements of individuals from two seal species (Phoca vitulina and Halichoerus grypus). Using state-space models, we infer that these animals are using structures to forage. We highlight the ecological consequences of such behaviour, at a time of unprecedented developments in marine infrastructure. |
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