In:
Marine Mammal Science, Wiley, Vol. 31, No. 3 ( 2015-07), p. 1118-1131
Abstract:
The marked differences in predation risk posed by white sharks ( Carcarodon carcarias) at island rookeries of Cape fur seals ( Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus ) offer a quasi‐experimental design within a natural system for exploring how prey adjust their behavior in response to temporal variation in predation risk. Here we compare movement of juvenile and adult Cape fur seals at a high risk (Seal Island) and low risk (Egg Island) rookery. We further compare juveniles and adults at Seal Island in low and high risk seasons and at low and high risk times of day within those seasons. Adult fur seals at Seal Island avoided traversing the zone of high white shark predation risk during the high risk period (0700–0959) in the season of high risk (winter), but not during the low risk season (summer). By contrast, adult fur seals at Egg Island showed no temporal discretion in either season. Unlike juvenile fur seals at Egg Island, juveniles at Seal Island adjusted their temporal movement patterns to more closely mimic adult seal movement patterns. This suggests that exposure to predators is the primary driver of temporal adjustments to movement by prey species commuting from a central place.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0824-0469
,
1748-7692
DOI:
10.1111/mms.2015.31.issue-3
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
12787-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2218018-7
SSG:
12