Seasonal movements and dive patterns of juvenile Baikal seals, Phoca sibirica

摘要: The Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica) is confined to Lake in southern Siberia. breeding distribution of seals winter, when the lake frozen over, fairly well known, whereas their movements and foraging behaviors have been relatively unstudied. With satellite-linked radio transmitters, we documented dive patterns four juvenile from autumn through spring. moved extensively lake, each covering minimal distances 400–1,600 km between September early May. They spent little time hauled out May and, apparently, dived continuously. Dives were mostly depths lo-50 m, though a few exceeded 300 m. Most lasted 2 6 mm, within theoretical aerobic limits, although 40 min. exceptionally long dives occurred while areas extensive ice cover, suggesting that they were, perhaps, under ice-pilotage search breathing holes rather than dives. Otherwise, performances these relative body mass, similar those other well-studied phocids. Movements appeared be primarily associated with seasonal die1 primary prey, golomyanka sculpins, secondarily correlated formation thaw.