Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cephalopod remains in scats of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at Cape Shirreff, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

  • Short Note
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The diet of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) varies regionally, and fish and cephalopods are thought to be the most important food source. However, there is limited information on the cephalopod component of the Weddell seal’s diet in the South Shetland Islands. We investigated cephalopod remains in the diet of Weddell seals by analysing 21 scats collected on three beaches at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, Antarctica, from 1 to 20 February 1999. Although the number of scats is small and collected from only 1 month a long time ago, fish and cephalopods were present in 21 and 16 of the scats, respectively. Only cephalopods of the order Octopoda were represented. Thaumeledone sp. was the most abundant prey species in terms of numbers, followed by Pareledone charcoti and P. turqueti. The latter two species showed the highest frequency of occurrence in scats (10 and 9, respectively). Graneledone macrotyla, Opistoteuthis sp., Argonauta sp., Haliphron sp. and Thaumeledone sp. are new species identified in the diet of Weddell seals in the present study, but all made a negligible contribution to their diet at Cape Shirreff. Our findings agree with previous dietary studies of Weddell seals at other localities in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, which showed a relatively greater contribution of octopods to the diet compared with squid in summer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Aguayo-Lobo A (1978) The present status of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella, at South Shetland Islands. Polar Rec 19:167–176. doi:10.1017/S003224740000190X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allcock AL (2005) On the confusion surrounding Pareledone charcoti (Joubin 1905) (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): endemic radiation in the Southern Ocean. Zool J Linn Soc Lond 143:75–108. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00146.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allcock AL, Hochberg FG, Stranks TN (2003) Re-evaluation of Graneledone setebos (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) and allocation to the genus Megaleledone. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 83:319–328. doi:10.1017/S0025315403007148h

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allcock AL, Collins MA, Piatkowski U, Vecchione M (2004) Thaumeledone and other deep water octopodids from the Southern Ocean. Deep Sea Res II 51:1883–1901. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2004.07.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtson JL, Ferm LM, Harkonen TJ, Schaner EG, Stewart BS (1988) Survey of Antarctic Fur seals in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the 1986/1987 austral summer. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-60, 14 pp. Available via DIALOG. http://nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/pdfs/tmfnec60.pdf

  • Bertram G (1940) The biology of the Weddell and Creabeater seals. Sci Rep Br Graham Land Exped 1:1–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns J, Trumble S, Castellini M, Testa J (1998) The diet of the Weddell seals in McMurdo sound, Antarctica, as determined from scat collections and stable isotope analysis. Polar Biol 19:272–282. doi:10.1007/s003000050245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calhaem I, Christoffel DA (1969) Some observations of the feeding habits of a Weddell seal, and measurements of its prey, Dissostichus mawsoni, at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. New Zeal J Mar Fresh 3:181–190. doi:10.1080/00288330.1969.9515287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casaux R, Baroni A, Ramón A (2006) The diet of the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 29:257–262. doi:10.1007/s00300-005-0048-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casaux R, Carlini A, Corbalán A, Bertolin L, DiPrinzio CY (2009) The diet of the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands. Polar Biol 32:833–838. doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0583-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassaux R, Baroni A, Carlini A (1997) The diet of the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli at Harmony Piont, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biol 18:371–375. doi:10.1007/s003000050202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castellini M, Davis R, Davis M, Horning M (1984) Antarctic marine life under the McMurdo Ice Shelf at White Island: a link between nutrient influx and seal population. Polar Biol 2:229–231. doi:10.1007/BF00263629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherel Y, Ridoux V, Rodhouse PG (1996) Fish and squid in the diet of king penguin chicks, Aptenodytes patagonicus, during winter at sub-antarctic Crozet Islands. Mar Biol 126:559–570. doi:10.1007/BF00351323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke MR (1996) Cephalopods as prey. III. Cetaceans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 351:1053–1065. doi:10.1098/rstb.1996.0093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke MR, MacLeod N (1982) Cephalopod remains in the stomachs of eight Weddell seals. Brit Antarct Surv Bull 57:33–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins MA, Rodhouse PGK (2006) Southern Ocean cephalopods. Adv Mar Biol 50:191–265. doi:10.1016/S0065-2881(05)50003-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins MA, Allcock AL, Belchier M (2004) Cephalopods of the South Georgia slope. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 84:415–419. doi:10.1017/S0025315404009373h

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daneri GA, Carlini AR, Negri A, Allcock AL, Corbalán A (2012) Predation on cephalopods by Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 35:585–592. doi:10.1007/s00300-011-1104-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis R, Castellini M, Horning M, Davis M, Kooyman G (1982) Winter ecology of Weddell seals at White Island. Antarct J US 17:183–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Dearborn J (1965) Food of Weddell seals at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. J Mammal 46:37–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green K, Burton H (1987) Seasonal and geographical variation in the food of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii in Antarctica. Aust Wildlife Res 14:475–489. doi:10.1071/WR9870475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green K, Burton H, Watts D (1995) Studies of the Weddell seals in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. ANARE Res Notes 93:1–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Hucke-Gaete H, Osman LP, Moreno CA, Torres D (2004) Examining natural population growth from near extinction: the case of the Antarctic fur seal at the South Shetlands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 27:304–311. doi:10.1007/s00300-003-0587-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imber MJ (1992) Cephalopods eaten by wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans L.) breeding at six circumpolar localities. J Roy Soc New Zeal 22:243–263. doi:10.1080/03036758.1992.10420819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klages NTW (1996) Cephalopods as prey. II. Seals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 351:1045–1052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lake S, Burton H, van den Hoff J (2003) Regional, temporal and fine scale spatial variation in Weddell seal diet at four coastal locations in east Antarctica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 254:293–305. doi:10.3354/meps254293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipinski MR, Woyciechowski M (1981) Cephalopods in the food of Weddell seals from the Admiralty Bay (King George, Island, South Shetland Islands). Pol Polar Res 2:163–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipinski MR, David JHM (1990) Cephalopods in the diet of the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). J Zool Lond 221:359–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osman LP, Hucke-Gaete R, Moreno CA, Torres D (2004) Feeding ecology of Antarctic fur seals at Cape Shirreff, South Shetlands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 27:92–98. doi:10.1007/s00300-003-0555-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plötz J (1986) Summer diet of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli) in eastern and southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biol 6:97–102. doi:10.1007/BF00258259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plötz J, Ekau W, Reijnders P (1991) Diet of Weddel seals Leptonychotes weddelli at Vestkapp, Eastern Weddell Sea (Antarctica), in relation to local food supply. Mar Mamm Sci 7:136–144. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1991.tb00560.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodhouse PG, Arnbom TR, Fedak MA, Yeatman J, Murray AWA (1992) Cephalopod prey of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina L. Can J Zool 70:1007–1015. doi:10.1139/z92-143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roper CFE, Sweeney MJ, Clarke MR (1988) Cefalópodos. In: Fischer W, Hureau JC (eds) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de pesca. Océano Austral (áreas de pesca 48, 58 y 88, área de la convención CCAMLR). Roma, FAO, Vol. I, pp 117–205

  • Santos RA, Haimovici M (1998) Cephalopods in the diet of marine mammals stranded or incidentally caught along Southeast and Southern Brazil (21º to 34ºS). ICES Annual Science Conference. CM 1998/M: 35:15 pp

  • Testa J (1994) Over-winter movements and diving behaviour of female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in the southwestern Ross Sea, Antarctica. Can J Zool 72:1700–1710. doi:10.1139/z94-229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Testa J, Sinif D, Ross M, Winter J (1985) Weddell seal-Antarctic cod interactions in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. In: Siegfried W, Condy P, Laws R (eds) Antarctic nutrient cycles and food webs. Springer, New York, pp 561–565

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Torres D (1995) Antecedentes y proyecciones científicas de los estudios en el SEIC No 32 y Sitio CEMP “Cabo Shirreff e islotes San Telmo”, isla Livingston, Antártica. Ser Cient INACH 45:143–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Vega MA, Letelier S, Carreño E (2001) Colección de cefalópodos del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural: catálogo especies de aguas chilenas. Mus Nac Hist Nat Chile 57:1–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff GA (1984) Identification and estimation of size from the beaks of 18 species of cephalopods from the Pacific Ocean. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 17: 50 pp. Available via DIALOG. http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/tr17opt.pdf

  • Xavier JC, Cherel Y (2009) Cephalopod beak guide for the Southern Ocean. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Yau C, Allcock AL, Daly HI, Collins MA (2002) Distribution of Pareledone spp. (Octopodidae: Eledoninae) around South Georgia. Bull Mar Sci 71:993–1002

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The first author would like to thank the directors of Fundación CEQUA and Conicyt (Grant number R13A1002) for providing time and constant support for marine mammal research. We wish to thank all colleagues and volunteers who participated in the field and the staff of the Laboratory of Malacology at the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (MNHN) for providing space and the reference collection for comparison purposes. We also wish to thank Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH) for supporting Project 018 between 1991 and 2006 and M. Bester for made helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundación CEQUA, 21 de Mayo 1690, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Jorge Acevedo

  2. Universidad Arturo Prat, Casilla 121, Iquique, Chile

    Esteban Carreño

  3. Retired Chief of Project INACH 018, Av Luis Durand 3860, Macul, Santiago, Chile

    Daniel Torres

  4. Instituto Antártico Chileno, Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Anelio Aguayo-Lobo

  5. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Casilla 787, Santiago, Chile

    Sergio Letelier

Authors
  1. Jorge Acevedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Esteban Carreño
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniel Torres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anelio Aguayo-Lobo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sergio Letelier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jorge Acevedo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Acevedo, J., Carreño, E., Torres, D. et al. Cephalopod remains in scats of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) at Cape Shirreff, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 38, 1559–1564 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1713-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1713-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation