Project information
Project aim
The extent of Antarctic winter sea-ice influences all aspects of the Antarctic marine food-web. We will use natural variations in inter-annual ice extent, to assess how a key component of that ecosystem, the predators, use the sea ice zone. Core foraging areas and dietary signals for three prominent Antarctic predators (King and Macaroni Penguins and Antarctic fur seals) will use newly developed, technology to track the animals, and stable isotopes to examine tropic linkages. Combined with satellite-derived sea-ice data this will lead to the development a model to predict how changing sea-ice patterns will influence Antarctic marine predator communities.
Related publications
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Foraging habitats of top predators, and Areas of Ecological Significance, on the Kerguelen Plateau. The Kerguelen Plateau: marine ecosystem and fisheries, 2011
(Ref: 14718)
Authors:Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature
Avian and mammalian predators play a key role in the Kerguelen Plateau ecosystem, both with respect to structuring the marine community and its response to anthropogenic influences, such as climate change and commercial fisheries.