Bearded seal foraging ecology

During this three year campaign (2005-2007), we will perform a series of investigations to explore the dynamics of bearded seal foraging.

We will: 1) complete data collection from captive bearded seal experiments in one final set of trials that includes pressure measurements (and also finish analysing and writing up the previously commenced anatomical investigations of whisker morphology and anatomy, and biokinematic studies with the captive animals); 2) deploy cameras on bearded seals in Kongsfjorden to document their foraging activities and its physical impacts on the substrate in the wild; 3) explore the relationship between the animals actual behaviour and assessments of behaviour based on dive profiles alone; and 4) explore diet via isotope analyses of various tissues, and fatty acid profiles in bearded seals compared to potential prey.

In addition we will deploy state-of-the-art satellite tags in order to study the ontogeny of diving and distribution. This work is being conducted by an international team of researchers including scientists from the USA, Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan.

This NPI programme is financially assisted by the Norwegian Research Council (MARE), NSF (USA) and the Australian Research Council.

Prosjektleder: Drs. Kit M. Kovacs & Christian Lydersen