| Abstract: |
We investigated the feeding ecology and foraging location of migrating and nursing northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) adult females and migrating juvenile males from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, using carbon (d13C) and nitrogen (d15N) isotope analysis of fur seal skin and whole potential prey. Post-parturient and lactating females had mean d15N values significantly (0.8) higher than pregnant, migratory females, and d13C values that were not significantly different. Two opportunistically collected, migrating, nulliparous females had mean d13C values 1.1 lower than migrating, pregnant females, and d15N values that were not different. Pregnant, migratory females had mean d13C values significantly (~1.5) higher than migratory juvenile males, and mean d15N values significantly (~0.61.6) higher than migratory juvenile males. The exception was one group of juvenile males from St. Paul Island with mean d15N values that were not significantly different from migrating females. The mean d15N values of pregnant females indicate they were feeding at a higher trophic level than juvenile males during migration. The higher mean d13C values for pregnant females suggest they were feeding coastally during the spring migration, while juvenile males and nulliparous females were feeding offshore. The higher d15N values for post-parturient, lactating females over migrating, pregnant females point to either a trophic shift in diet over time, or a more likely 15N-enrichment due to negative nitrogen balance caused by the nutritional stress of lactation and the feeding/fasting regime experienced by females. Similar mean d13C values for migrating and breeding-season females indicate that both groups were feeding in coastal, on-shelf domains during their respective time periods. Similar mean d15N values for nulliparous and pregnant females indicate they were feeding at similar trophic levels despite indications of feeding in separate ecosystems during migration. Using a d15N shift of 23 per trophic level, we made general inferences about the trophic levels at which northern fur seals were feeding. The interpretation of our d15N data indicates that migrating pregnant females, lactating females and the majority of migrating juvenile males consumed prey with mean d15N values between 14.2 and 15.2, 15.1 and 16.1, and 13.6 and 14.6, respectively. Probable fur seal prey was analyzed as well. Walleye pollock showed progressive 15N and 13C-enrichments with age. Mean d15N and d13C values of 3- to 4-year-old fish were ~6.0 and 1.1 higher, respectively, than values for 0-age pollock. Atka mackerel also showed isotopic enrichment with age. The d15N and d13C values of large fish were 0.8 and 0.3 higher, respectively, than values for smaller fish.
|
