Coexistence of mesopredators in an intact polar ocean ecosystem: The basis for defining a Ross Sea marine protected area

摘要: Designation of an effective marine protected area (MPA) requires substantial knowledge the spatial use region by key species, particularly those high mobility. Within Ross Sea, Antarctica, least altered ecosystem on Earth, unusually large and closely interacting populations several bird mammal species co-exist. Understanding how that is possible important to maintaining ecological integrity system, major goal in designating Sea as MPA. We report analyses niche occupation, two-dimensional habitat use, overlap for majority (9) mesopredator considering three components: (1) diet, (2) vertical distribution (3) horizontal distribution. For we used information literature; maximum entropy modeling project species’ distributions from occurrence data ocean cruises satellite telemetry, correlated with six environmental variables. Results identified ranked areas importance a conservation prioritization framework. While diet overlapped intensively, some partitioning existed dimension (diving depth). Horizontal partitioning, however, was structuring factor, defined general patterns suitability: continental shelf break, slope, marginal ice zone pack surrounding post-polynya. In aggregate, nine mesopredators entire allowing these Conservation outer slope deeper troughs be most important. Our results substantially improve understanding occupation imply piecemeal approach MPA designation this system not likely successful.