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Diel changes in ribbon seal Histriophoca fasciata vocalizations during sea ice presence in the Nemuro Strait, Sea of Okhotsk

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Abstract

Ice-breeding seals use vocal communication mainly during breeding season. The vocal function of aquatic mating, ice-associated ribbon seals (Histriophoca fasciata) has been unknown since they produce sounds in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. We examined the timing of their vocal presence in relation to environmental factors to infer the function of their calls in the Nemuro Strait, northern Japan, since this area is the possible southern limit of their breeding range. Vocalizations of ribbon seals were irregularly sampled from November 2012 to March 2014 in the Nemuro Strait and were compared with sea ice presence, time of day, and tidal currents. Ribbon seal downsweeps were detected in February 2013 and March 2014 only when sea ice was present along the Shiretoko Peninsula in the strait, with more detections in March leading up to the spring breeding season. Downsweep detections decreased in the middle of the day, indicating that ribbon seals were likely to be hauled out during this time. Vocalizing at night and early morning would probably reflect the increased opportunity for attracting females underwater. Our study suggests that the seal vocalizations in concurrence with sea ice presence in the Nemuro Strait could function as underwater communication for breeding.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Tomoyuki Aoyagi, Kazumi Ishida, Ayako Saito, Katsunori Seki, and Yasushi Suda for deployment of the acoustic devices. We also appreciate Koki Abe for assisting in the field and Osamu Shida and the Japan Fisheries Cooperative of Rausu for providing walleye pollock data. Tsuyoshi Ishinazaka, Yuka Iwahara, Hokuto Shirakawa, and Hiromichi Ueno provided suggestions for this study. Kazushi Miyasita and Yasunori Sakurai partially provided financial support. Brianna Wright provided helpful comments and edited this manuscript. This manuscript has greatly improved by two anonymous reviewers. Funding was provided by Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant of the Japan Science Society (25-703) and by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant (25870008 and 15H05709).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 040-0051, Japan

    Mayuko Otsuki

  2. National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-8648, Japan

    Tomonari Akamatsu

  3. Shiretoko Nature Foundation, 6-27 Yunosawa, Rausu, Menashi, Hokkaido, Japan

    Takahiro Nobetsu

  4. Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 116 Katsurakoi, Kushiro, Hokkaido, 085-0802, Japan

    Daisuke Mizuguchi

  5. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 040-0051, Japan

    Yoko Mitani

Authors
  1. Mayuko Otsuki
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  2. Tomonari Akamatsu
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  3. Takahiro Nobetsu
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  4. Daisuke Mizuguchi
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  5. Yoko Mitani
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Correspondence to Mayuko Otsuki.

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Otsuki, M., Akamatsu, T., Nobetsu, T. et al. Diel changes in ribbon seal Histriophoca fasciata vocalizations during sea ice presence in the Nemuro Strait, Sea of Okhotsk. Polar Biol 41, 451–456 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2203-3

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