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Environmental determinants of top predator distribution within the dynamic winter pack ice zone of the northern Antarctic Peninsula

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Abstract

Global warming is predicted to reduce the amount of sea ice concentration in polar environments, thus presenting profound changes for populations of seabirds and marine mammals dependent on sea ice. Using data from a shipboard survey during August 2012, I test the hypothesis that relative abundance of seabird and marine mammals reflects environmental variability associated with the dynamic pack ice zone. Using environmental data and observations of sea ice concentration, I quantified an environmental gradient that describes the spatial organization of the dynamic pack ice zone. The relationship of top predators to this environmental gradient revealed three important aspects: (1) an open water and pack ice community is present with some top predator species exhibiting higher abundance associated with moderate sea ice concentration (40–60 %) as opposed to the pack ice edge (10 %), (2) Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were the most abundant pinniped and they were observed resting on ice floes and foraging within leads and polynyas, and (3) for the most abundant species, spatial regression models indicate that latitude and sea ice concentration (a principal north/south gradient) are the most important environmental determinants. Winter ocean conditions may strongly influence population dynamics of top predators; therefore, information regarding their habitat use during winter is needed for understanding ecosystem dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

I am grateful for the assistance of Michael P. Force, Christian S. Reiss, the US Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) winter field team, scientific support from the Antarctic Support Contractors and the crew of the RV Nathanial B. Palmer. I greatly appreciate the US National/Naval Ice Center team for their supply of ice images for this survey; they were critical for planning and executing this research. The comments and suggestions by anonymous reviewers help to improve the quality of this paper.

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  1. Center for Stock Assessment Research, University of California at Santa Cruz, 110 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA

    Jarrod A. Santora

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Correspondence to Jarrod A. Santora.

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Santora, J.A. Environmental determinants of top predator distribution within the dynamic winter pack ice zone of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 37, 1083–1097 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-014-1502-1

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