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Predation on cephalopods by Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula

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Abstract

Cephalopods play a key role in marine environments as food resources for top predators such as marine mammals and seabirds. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with Antarctic seals is scarce. The aim of the present study was to examine the cephalopod portion of the diet of adult and subadult Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, through the analysis of scats collected during three consecutive summers (2003, 2004 and 2005). Cephalopods occurred in almost 45% of the 217 samples collected during the whole period of study. A total of 662 beaks (358 upper and 304 lower) were removed from scats containing cephalopod remains (n = 93). Octopods were largely dominant in comparison with teuthoids constituting in numerical abundance over 95% of the cephalopod prey. The octopod Pareledone turqueti was the most frequent and dominant prey species representing, respectively, 57.9 and 71.1% in numbers and biomass of cephalopods consumed. Species belonging to the group of papillated Pareledone were second in importance. The results were compared with information from previous dietary studies of L. weddellii at other localities of Antarctica. Based on the examination of the cephalopod prey taxa identified in this study, it is suggested that during the study period Weddell seal individuals foraged mainly on benthic prey resources close to the coast, in inshore waters where octopods were dominant in comparison with pelagic squid.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Dr. E. Marschoff who provided statistical advice. We are also grateful to M. Libertelli and G. Blanco for field assistance. This study was carried out with financial support from the Dirección Nacional del Antártico and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (Grant: PICTO no. 36054). This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alejandro Carlini (“Alex”).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Avenida Angel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G. A. Daneri & A. Negri

  2. Departamento de Biología de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248 (C1010AAZ), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    A. R. Carlini & A. Corbalán

  3. Department of Zoology, Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    A. L. Allcock

Authors
  1. G. A. Daneri
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  2. A. R. Carlini
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  3. A. Negri
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  4. A. L. Allcock
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  5. A. Corbalán
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. A. Daneri.

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A. R. Carlini: deceased 20 December 2010.

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Daneri, G.A., Carlini, A.R., Negri, A. et al. Predation on cephalopods by Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 35, 585–592 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1104-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1104-0

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