Three-dimensional analysis of search behaviour by ringed seals Article

Simpkins, MA, Kelly, BP, Wartzok, D. (2001). Three-dimensional analysis of search behaviour by ringed seals . ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 62(1), 67-72. 10.1006/anbe.2000.1734

cited authors

  • Simpkins, MA; Kelly, BP; Wartzok, D

authors

abstract

  • We analysed the use of three-dimensional space by 13 freely diving ringed seals, Phoca hispida, to distinguish between local search, presumably within prey patches, and travel or exploration between prey patches. We subdivided the three-dimensional home ranges of ringed seals into 3 × 3 × 3 m grid cells. For each dive, we determined the time spent swimming through each grid cell and the frequency of grid cell revisits. The seals generally spent 1-3 s in each cell and rarely revisited cells. During 34% of all dives, however, ringed seals focused their effort within a reduced volume, suggesting local search within parches of prey. The disproportionate effort within restricted volumes resulted from seals revisiting cells (18% of dives), reducing speed within cells (9% of dives), or both reducing speed and revisiting cells (7% of dives). Ringed seals searched locally in less than 10% of descents and ascents but did so in 41% of bottom phases (time spent at depth between the end of descent and the beginning of ascent). © 2001 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

publication date

  • January 1, 2001

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 67

end page

  • 72

volume

  • 62

issue

  • 1