The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator
Abstract Predator–prey interactions in marine ecosystems are dynamically influenced by light, as demonstrated by diel vertical migrations of low-trophic level organisms. At high latitudes, the long winter nights can provide foraging opportunities for marine predators targeting vertically migrating p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53953-w |
| _version_ | 1797274900915814400 |
|---|---|
| author | Philippine Chambault Jonas Teilmann Outi Tervo Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen |
| author_facet | Philippine Chambault Jonas Teilmann Outi Tervo Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen |
| author_sort | Philippine Chambault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Predator–prey interactions in marine ecosystems are dynamically influenced by light, as demonstrated by diel vertical migrations of low-trophic level organisms. At high latitudes, the long winter nights can provide foraging opportunities for marine predators targeting vertically migrating prey closer to the surface at night. However, there is limited documentation of such diel patterns in marine predators under extreme light regimes. To address this, we recorded the diving behavior of 17 harbour porpoises just south of the Arctic circle in West Greenland, from summer to winter. Unlike classical diel vertical migration, the porpoises dove 24–37% deeper at night and the frequency of deep dives (> 100 m) increased tenfold as they entered the darkest months. The daily mean depth was negatively correlated with daylength, suggesting an increased diving activity when approaching the polar night. Our findings suggest a light-mediated strategy in which harbour porpoises would either target (i) benthic prey, (ii) pelagic prey migrating seasonally towards the seafloor, or (iii) vertically migrating prey that may be otherwise inaccessible in deeper waters at night, therefore maximizing feeding activity during extended periods of darkness. Extreme light regimes observed at high latitudes are therefore critical in structuring pelagic communities and food webs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:05:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e90f03f25afb4099981a39b142422f59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:05:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e90f03f25afb4099981a39b142422f592024-03-05T18:55:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-011411910.1038/s41598-024-53953-wThe nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predatorPhilippine Chambault0Jonas Teilmann1Outi Tervo2Mikkel Holger S. Sinding3Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen4Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesMarine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus UniversityGreenland Institute of Natural ResourcesSection for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of CopenhagenGreenland Institute of Natural ResourcesAbstract Predator–prey interactions in marine ecosystems are dynamically influenced by light, as demonstrated by diel vertical migrations of low-trophic level organisms. At high latitudes, the long winter nights can provide foraging opportunities for marine predators targeting vertically migrating prey closer to the surface at night. However, there is limited documentation of such diel patterns in marine predators under extreme light regimes. To address this, we recorded the diving behavior of 17 harbour porpoises just south of the Arctic circle in West Greenland, from summer to winter. Unlike classical diel vertical migration, the porpoises dove 24–37% deeper at night and the frequency of deep dives (> 100 m) increased tenfold as they entered the darkest months. The daily mean depth was negatively correlated with daylength, suggesting an increased diving activity when approaching the polar night. Our findings suggest a light-mediated strategy in which harbour porpoises would either target (i) benthic prey, (ii) pelagic prey migrating seasonally towards the seafloor, or (iii) vertically migrating prey that may be otherwise inaccessible in deeper waters at night, therefore maximizing feeding activity during extended periods of darkness. Extreme light regimes observed at high latitudes are therefore critical in structuring pelagic communities and food webs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53953-wCetaceanForagingDiving behaviorPhocoena phocoenaDaylengthGreenland |
| spellingShingle | Philippine Chambault Jonas Teilmann Outi Tervo Mikkel Holger S. Sinding Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator Scientific Reports Cetacean Foraging Diving behavior Phocoena phocoena Daylength Greenland |
| title | The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| title_full | The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| title_fullStr | The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| title_full_unstemmed | The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| title_short | The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| title_sort | nightscape of the arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator |
| topic | Cetacean Foraging Diving behavior Phocoena phocoena Daylength Greenland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53953-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT philippinechambault thenightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT jonasteilmann thenightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT outitervo thenightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT mikkelholgerssinding thenightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT madspeterheidejørgensen thenightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT philippinechambault nightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT jonasteilmann nightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT outitervo nightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT mikkelholgerssinding nightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator AT madspeterheidejørgensen nightscapeofthearcticwintershapesthedivingbehaviorofamarinepredator |