Spatio-temporal foraging patterns of a giant zooplanktivore, the leatherback turtle
Spatio-temporal foraging patterns of a giant zooplanktivore, the leatherback turtle
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.jmarsys.2009.12.002
复制
发表时间：
2010-05-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Hays, Graeme C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fossette, Sabrina;Hobson, Victoria J.;Hays, Graeme C.
通过研究天然生物指标来了解食物网的功能可能是一种有价值的原创方法。在许多过度开发的海洋生态系统中水母增殖的背景下，研究巨型“水母”棱皮龟的时空觅食模式显得尤为重要。在这里，我们分析了长期跟踪数据，以评估 21 只棱皮龟在北大西洋每年多次迁徙期间的时空觅食模式。通过基于动物自身运动（独立于水流）和潜水行为的分析方法，确定了高和低觅食成功率的不同区域。在跨越大西洋的亚赤道地区和高纬度（>30度北）地区，觅食成功率很高。在北大西洋环流中心的这些区域之间，觅食成功率较低。棱皮龟在前往高纬度地区生产力更高的地区时，高速穿越了这片“海洋沙漠”地区。与低觅食成功率区域（分别为 51.0+/-13.1 km day(-1) 和 81.8+/-56.2 m 平均值+/-SD）相比，动物在高觅食成功率区域中移动缓慢，并且潜水更浅（分别为 17.2+/-8.0 km day(-1) 和 53.6+/-33.1 m 平均值+/-SD）。这些时空觅食模式似乎与北大西洋中型浮游动物综合分布的主要特征相对接近。我们定义高觅食成功区域的方法是直观且相对容易实施的，但也考虑了洋流对动物行为的影响。 (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. 保留所有权利。
Understanding food web functioning through the study of natural bio-indicators may constitute a valuable and original approach. In the context of jellyfish proliferation in many overexploited marine ecosystems studying the spatio-temporal foraging patterns of the giant "jellyvore" leatherback turtle turns out to be particularly relevant. Here we analyzed long-term tracking data to assess spatio-temporal foraging patterns in 21 leatherback turtles during their pluri-annual migration in the Northern Atlantic. Through an analytical approach based on the animal's own motion (independent of currents) and diving behavior distinct zones of high and low foraging success were identified. High foraging success occurred in a sub-equatorial zone spanning the width of the Atlantic and at high (>30 degrees N) latitudes. Between these zones in the centre of North Atlantic gyre there was low foraging success. This "ocean desert" area was traversed at high speed by leatherbacks on their way to more productive areas at higher latitudes. Animals traveled slowly in high foraging success areas and dived shallower (17.2+/-8.0 km day(-1) and 53.6+/-33.1 m mean+/-SD respectively) than in low foraging success areas (51.0+/-13.1 km day(-1) and 81.8+/-56.2 m mean+/-SD respectively). These spatio-temporal foraging patterns seem to relatively closely match the main features of the integrated meso-zooplankton distribution in the North Atlantic. Our method of defining high foraging success areas is intuitive and relatively easy to implement but also takes into account the impact of oceanic currents on animal's behavior. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.