Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging

Credit: Daniel Costa, 漏University of California Santa Cruz

Researchers outfitted the seals with Conductivity Temperature Depth-Satellite Relay Dive Loggers, which collected a total of 8,913 days of behavioral data from 59 adult seals. The data shed light on the tradeoffs the seals make between the conservation of their oxygen stores and the energetic gains that could be realized by capturing prey.

« Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging

Credit: Daniel Costa, 漏University of California Santa Cruz

Erebus Bay, Antarctica is home to the southernmost population of the world鈥檚 southernmost living mammal 鈥� the Weddell seal. The researchers outfitted the seals with Conductivity Temperature Depth-Satellite Relay Dive Loggers, which collected 8,913 days of behavioral data from 59 adult seals.

« Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging

Credit: Michelle Shero, 漏Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

New research sheds light on Weddell seal's dive foraging strategy, striking a fine balance in pushing their breath-hold capacities and maximizing the use of the seasonal Antarctic light.

« Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging

Credit: Michelle Shero, 漏Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

: New research shows Weddell seals avoid making extreme dives for prey during midday, allowing the seals to keep diving over and over without having to pause for long. This allows them to spend almost all of their time underwater, foraging under high-light conditions, which is best for visual hunters.

« Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging

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