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dc.contributor.advisorHastie, Gordon Drummond
dc.contributor.advisorThompson, David
dc.contributor.authorOnoufriou, Joseph
dc.coverage.spatialxv, 258 p.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-06-29T16:04:10Z
dc.date.available2021-06-29T16:04:10Z
dc.date.issued2020-07-29
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/23447
dc.description.abstractDespite ever increasing information on the importance of oceanographic processes for marine predators, movement ecology of higher trophic level species in tidal stream environments remains relatively under-studied. This represents a significant knowledge gap for certain species which spend large portions of their lives in these energetic habitats. In this thesis I show that a top predator, the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), inhabiting one of the most tidally energetic regions in Europe, the Pentland Firth, shows a complex range of behaviours as a consequence of the strong current flows they are subjected to. Both horizontal movement and diving behaviour elucidate a degree of foraging plasticity, hitherto undocumented in a single population of harbour seals. I also demonstrate that, by using multiple perspectives of movement, researchers can better tease apart ecologically important areas for animals inhabiting these habitats. Given the importance of tidally energetic systems for harbour seals, I then go on to study the impact of tidal energy installations on their movements and physical fitness. Using telemetry data, I determine an overt avoidance response of the local population to an operational turbine array and demonstrate the effect this can have on our understanding of collision risk. To further augment our predictions of the population level effect of these devices, I then go on to demonstrate that not all collisions between seals and tidal turbine blades are likely to result in fatality. In combination, these results suggest that currently held views on the lethal effects of tidal turbines are overly-conservative, and the likely behavioural and physical responses to these devices may result in a more ecologically favourable outcome than previously assumed.en_US
dc.description.sponsorship"This PhD was funded by co-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Marine Scotland (project reference MMSS/002/15) and the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology (MASTS; grant reference HR09011)." -- Acknowledgementsen
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of St Andrews
dc.subjectPhociden_US
dc.subjectMovement ecologyen_US
dc.subjectRenewable energyen_US
dc.subjectSpatial ecologyen_US
dc.titleHarbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in a tidal stream environment : movement ecology and the effects of a renewable energy installationen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.contributor.sponsorScottish Natural Heritage (SNH)en_US
dc.contributor.sponsorScotland. Marine Scotlanden_US
dc.contributor.sponsorMarine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS)en_US
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_US
dc.type.qualificationnamePhD Doctor of Philosophyen_US
dc.publisher.institutionThe University of St Andrewsen_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.17630/sta/85


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