TY - JOUR
T1 - Site use and connectivity of female grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) around Wales
AU - Langley, Izzy
AU - Rosas Da Costa Oliver, Tobias Vasco
AU - Hiby, Lex
AU - Stringell, Thomas
AU - Morris, Ceri
AU - O'Cahdla, Oliver
AU - Morgan, Lisa
AU - Lock, Kate
AU - Perry, Sarah
AU - Westcott, Stephen
AU - Boyle, Dave
AU - Beuche, Birgitta
AU - Stubbings, Edward
AU - Boys, Rebecca
AU - Self, Holly
AU - Lindenbaum, Charles
AU - Strong, Powell
AU - Baines, Mick
AU - Pomeroy, Patrick
N1 - The UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) provided core funding to the Sea Mammal Research Unit during this work and NERC Grant No. NE/G008930/1 to PP and LH to develop photo-ID use for grey seals. The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation provided additional funding to PP and LH for photo-ID work with grey seals. NRW funded survey work by MB, LM, SW and PS; contracted LH for survey design, software development and data management; IL and PP for work related to the production of this manuscript.
PY - 2020/5/30
Y1 - 2020/5/30
N2 - Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are a qualifying feature of three
special areas of conservation (SACs) in Wales, yet relatively little is
known of their site use along this coastline. Since 1992, many
individuals and organisations have contributed to a grey seal
photographic identification database held by Natural Resources Wales,
which is one of the largest and oldest of its kind, providing key
information from grey seal haul-out sites around the Celtic and Irish
Seas. Here, we investigated spatial connectivity of haul-out sites and
fidelity of adult females to breeding sites. The minimum number of adult
female grey seals using the area between 1992 and 2016 was 2688.
Individual capture histories and relative spatial transition
probabilities (Pij) between pairs of location groups were calculated. Adjacent locations were highly connected (e.g. Lleyn Peninsula and Bardsey, Pij = 0.7) but connections spanned the entire region, up to 230 km apart (e.g. Skomer and Dee Estuary, Pij = 0.004). Resights were recorded within SACs (e.g. Lleyn Peninsula and Bardsey [Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC], Pij = 0.7), between SACs (e.g. Bardsey and Skomer [Pembrokeshire Marine], Pij = 0.03), between SACs and non-designated areas (e.g. Skerries and Bardsey, Pij = 0.09) and between sites outside any protected area (e.g. Dee Estuary and Anglesey, Pij = 0.5). While inter-annual fidelity to breeding sites was high (Pij = 0.82–1),
individual female grey seals moved throughout the region. This evidence
of extensive site use beyond protected areas is important for the
management and conservation of grey seals around Wales.
AB - Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are a qualifying feature of three
special areas of conservation (SACs) in Wales, yet relatively little is
known of their site use along this coastline. Since 1992, many
individuals and organisations have contributed to a grey seal
photographic identification database held by Natural Resources Wales,
which is one of the largest and oldest of its kind, providing key
information from grey seal haul-out sites around the Celtic and Irish
Seas. Here, we investigated spatial connectivity of haul-out sites and
fidelity of adult females to breeding sites. The minimum number of adult
female grey seals using the area between 1992 and 2016 was 2688.
Individual capture histories and relative spatial transition
probabilities (Pij) between pairs of location groups were calculated. Adjacent locations were highly connected (e.g. Lleyn Peninsula and Bardsey, Pij = 0.7) but connections spanned the entire region, up to 230 km apart (e.g. Skomer and Dee Estuary, Pij = 0.004). Resights were recorded within SACs (e.g. Lleyn Peninsula and Bardsey [Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC], Pij = 0.7), between SACs (e.g. Bardsey and Skomer [Pembrokeshire Marine], Pij = 0.03), between SACs and non-designated areas (e.g. Skerries and Bardsey, Pij = 0.09) and between sites outside any protected area (e.g. Dee Estuary and Anglesey, Pij = 0.5). While inter-annual fidelity to breeding sites was high (Pij = 0.82–1),
individual female grey seals moved throughout the region. This evidence
of extensive site use beyond protected areas is important for the
management and conservation of grey seals around Wales.
U2 - 10.1007/s00227-020-03697-8
DO - 10.1007/s00227-020-03697-8
M3 - Article
SN - 0025-3162
VL - 167
JO - Marine Biology
JF - Marine Biology
M1 - 86
ER -