Top predators and Ocean interaction in Southern Oceans and archipelago islands

Azwianewi Makhado,

M. Seakamela, N. de Bruyn, P. Ryan, P. Pistorius & R. Crawford

Oceans and Coasts

Marion-centredview of the

world

Prince Edward Islands

Antarctic Circumpolar

Current

1. Because we are obliged to do

so

2. Unique research opportunities

3. Climatechange

5. Student training

4. Conservation

Research at the PEIs

1. To assess and monitor population sizes, trends and conservation status of Top predators at the

Prince Edward Islands. – Population ecology and conservation

2. To understand key driver of poor conservation status of some species at the Prince Edward Islands

and advise remedial measures - Species assessment and management

3. To assess the usefulness of different indices as indicators of environmental change in Southern

Ocean ecosystems – Climate change

4. To contribute to CCAMLR’s and ACAP - International engagements

5. To build on capacity within the southern ocean region - Training

Temperature trends

in the sub-Antarctic

region

Sub-Antarctic among the fastest warming regions.Since 1960, rainfall has decreased 40% and temperature

has warmed 0.21oC per decade

Many marine top predators have a poor and deteriorating

conservation status

2014

CR EN VU NT LC

e.g. seabirds

1984

VU LC

1. CR- critically endangered2. En- endangered3. VU- vulnerable4. NT- near threatened5. LC- least concern

28 species of seabird breed at the Prince Edward Islands; 16 on the surface, 12 in burrows. The table shows the contribution of the Prince Edward Islands to the world populations of the 16 surface-nesting species

40% of all Wandering Albatrosses(Vulnerable)

24% of all Sooty

Albatrosses and 33 % Crozet shag(Endangered)

Monitor the health of the

Southern Ocean by tracking top

predator:

• population size

• body condition

• reproduction• growth rates• diet• pollutants

Trends in numbers shows that the conservation status of

some species at the Island are of conservation concern

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Wandering albatross

Southern giant petrel

Light Mantled albatrossSooty albatross

Crested penguins

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Southern Rockhopper Penguin

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Macaroni Penguin

Numbers of both species of crested penguin breeding at Marion Island have decreased – the Southern Rockhopper Penguin is regionally Endangered; the

Macaroni Penguin is Vulnerable

Predators may indicate change in ecosystems where lower trophic levels are not monitored and assist in

Island ecosystem interaction i.e. nutrient cycles

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Gentoo Penguin Crozet Shag

E.g. numbers of Crozet Shags and Gentoo Penguins breeding at Marion Island have shown decreasing trends – both are benthic feeders eating similar prey. The

congruent trends suggest possible ongoing change in the benthic marine environment. Regionally the Crozet Shag is Critically Endangered and the Gentoo

Penguin is Endangered

Southern elephant seal populations: one of the longest tagging seals in the world

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Census year

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Macquarie IslandFitted SE

Marion IslandFitted SE

www.marionseals.com

4. Climatechange

Sub-Antarctic among the fastest warming regions.Since 1960, rainfall has decreased 40% and temperature has

warmed 0.21oC per decade

Seals dived to deeper depths when foraging in warmer waters.

Both male and female seals spent less time at targeted dive depths in warmer water, and were

presumably less successful foragers when diving in warmer water.

Continued warming of the Southern Ocean may result in the distribution of prey for southern

elephant seals shifting either poleward and/or to increasing depths, presumably increasing

energy utilization while searching for prey.

Fur sealsAssessment of foraging success and population trends

a. Attendance patterns

b. Population growth

c. Pup growth

d. Foraging

Overwintering distributions of crested penguins in the South Indian Ocean (collaboration with France)

Macaroni (red and pink lines), Southern Rockhopper (yellow and white) and Northern Rockhopper (green) Penguins. Locations: Marion (circle), Crozet (triangle), Kerguelen

(lozenge) and Amsterdam (square) islands. Macaroni and Southern RockhopperPenguins at island groups have different winter feeding grounds

Partitioning of foraging grounds of yellow-nosed albatrosses

Spatial management of oceans expected to play an important role in biodiversity conservation

Controlled zone light grey; restricted zones dark grey

The Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area was proclaimed in April

2013

New challenges and Opportunities

Land-breeding marine predators as bio-indicators of change in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

• Circumpolar Comparative study on the breeding ecology and foraging

behavior of some seabirds species breeding in SO i.e Skua etc.

• Population structure and contemporary gene flow in two sympatrically-

breeding Southern Ocean predators with contrasting demographics

• Interactive effects of multiple stressors and environmental change on

marine predators across the Antarctic Polar Front

• Seals from Space: satellite-based censuses of pack-ice seals in Dronning

Maud Land, Antarctica

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF HUMPBACK WHALES OFF COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA

Interesting Observations

Eradication isfeasible

1. Because we are obliged to do

so

2. Unique research opportunities

3. Climatechange

5. Student training

4. Conservation

THANK YOU