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dc.contributor.authorHastie, Gordon D.
dc.contributor.authorBivins, Matt
dc.contributor.authorCoram, Alex
dc.contributor.authorGordon, Jonathan
dc.contributor.authorJepp, Pauline
dc.contributor.authorMacAulay, Jamie
dc.contributor.authorSparling, Carol
dc.contributor.authorGillespie, Douglas
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-18T00:33:07Z
dc.date.available2020-03-18T00:33:07Z
dc.date.issued2019-04
dc.identifier256485525
dc.identifierf5cfe22f-bfac-422c-877f-57ee6c95db7f
dc.identifier85064820623
dc.identifier000465962300006
dc.identifier.citationHastie , G D , Bivins , M , Coram , A , Gordon , J , Jepp , P , MacAulay , J , Sparling , C & Gillespie , D 2019 , ' Three-dimensional movements of harbour seals in a tidally energetic channel : application of a novel sonar tracking system ' , Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems , vol. 29 , no. 4 , pp. 564-575 . https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3017en
dc.identifier.issn1052-7613
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-9773-2755/work/55643812
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-9628-157X/work/60427066
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-7658-5111/work/89178113
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/19666
dc.descriptionThe work was funded by the Scottish Government Demonstration Strategy (Project no. USA/010/14) and by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council and Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (RESPONSE project, NE/J004251/1). This work was also supported by National Capability funding from the Natural Environment Research Council to the Sea Mammal Research Unit (grant no. SMRU1001).en
dc.description.abstract1. Understanding how marine predators utilize habitats requires that we consider their behaviour in three dimensions. Recent research has shown that marine mammals often make use of tidally energetic locations for foraging, yet data are generally limited to observations of animals at the water surface. Such areas are also of interest to the renewable energy industry for the deployment of tidal-stream energy turbines; this has led to concerns about potential impacts on marine mammals. 2. Methods for measuring animal movements underwater are limited; however, active sonar can image marine mammals and could potentially measure 3D movements in tidally energetic locations. Here, a dual 720 kHz sonar system was developed to investigate the 3D movements of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in a tidally-energetic channel. 3. Estimated mean depth (distance from the surface) of seals was 12.0 m (95% CIs = 11.6–12.4), and the majority of time was spent at the surface and at approximately 10–12 m distance from the surface. When expressed as distances from the sea bed, mean distance was 18.5 m (95% CIs = 18.0–18.9), and the majority of time was spent at 14 m from the sea bed. 4. Seal movements were generally in the same direction as the tidal flow with mean horizontal speeds of between 0.51 and 3.13 m s−1 (95% CIs = 1.24–1.54 m s−1). Mean vertical velocities (where negative and positive values represent a descent and ascent respectively) for each seal track ranged between −1.76 and +0.88 m s−1 (95% CIs: −0.23 to +0.03 m s−1). 5. These results provide a basis for understanding how seals utilize a dynamic tidal environment and suggest that harbour seal behaviour can be markedly different to less tidally energetic habitats. The results also have important implications for the prediction of risk associated with interactions between diving seals and tidal turbines in these dynamic habitats.
dc.format.extent1764268
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofAquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystemsen
dc.subjectBehaviouren
dc.subjectEnvironmental impact assessmenten
dc.subjectMammalsen
dc.subjectNew techniquesen
dc.subjectRenewable energyen
dc.subjectQH301 Biologyen
dc.subjectNDASen
dc.subjectNERCen
dc.subjectSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energyen
dc.subjectSDG 14 - Life Below Wateren
dc.subject.lccQH301en
dc.titleThree-dimensional movements of harbour seals in a tidally energetic channel : application of a novel sonar tracking systemen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.contributor.sponsorNERCen
dc.contributor.sponsorNERCen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Sea Mammal Research Uniten
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. School of Biologyen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Instituteen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotlanden
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Bioacoustics groupen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Sound Tags Groupen
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/aqc.3017
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.date.embargoedUntil2020-03-18
dc.identifier.grantnumberNE/J004251/1en
dc.identifier.grantnumberAgreement R8-H12-86en


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