Niche Partitioning Among Marine Predators in the Ross Sea

Weddell seals, emperor penguins, and Adélie penguins are all circumpolar Antarctic species that are dependent on sea ice for reproduction and foraging. All three species feed extensively on Antarctic silverfish and are known to share breeding sites during the austral summer. We are using bio-logging technology to record their movement and diving behavior, as well as chemical indicators of their diet to asses how much overlap there is between these three species at Cape Crozier in the Ross Sea. Each year, we are deploying tracking devices on all three species and collecting tissue samples for chemical analysis. We are working with a team of collaborators from New Zealand, the US, and the UK to complete all of the goals of the project. This collaboration will focus on methodologies and data related to the pinniped (seal) component of the project.