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Winter distribution and abundance of crabeater seals off George V Land, East Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2004

Clive McMahon ,
Mark Hindell ,
Tony Dorr  and
Robert A. Massom
Clive McMahon
Affiliation:
Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS 7050, Australia Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, PO Box 252-05, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Mark Hindell
Affiliation:
Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, PO Box 252-05, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Tony Dorr
Affiliation:
Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit, School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, PO Box 252-05, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Robert A. Massom
Affiliation:
Antarctic CRC, GPO Box 252-80, c/o University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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Abstract

This study is the first to describe the winter distribution of crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) in East Antarctica. The study was conducted in the Mertz Glacier Polynya region from July to August 1999. In total 89 crabeater seals were seen in 26 groups which ranged in size from 1 to 35 animals (mean = 3.2). The mean observed haulout density along a 200 m wide strip transect was 0.108 seals per km2, or 0.042 groups per km2. Crabeater seals were not uniformly distributed in the polynya but selected areas of stable ice over shallow (< 1000 m) waters. We used a generalized linear model to assess the relationship of seal distribution to the physical attributes of sea ice concentration, thickness, and ocean depth. We found that ice thickness and ocean depth were the most important determinants of seal distribution. Crabeater seals occurred in areas where the ice affords them a stable haulout platform while allowing them access to Antarctic krill that live directly beneath the ice.

Keywords

bathymetryMertz Glacier Polynyasea ice propertieswinter distribution
Type
Life Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , June 2002 , pp. 128 - 133
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2002

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