Abstract
Occurrences of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the waters surrounding Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island have been recorded since the 1820s; however, their presence only became the focus of scientific research in the mid-1990s. The analyses of sightings data collected from the island between 1986 and 2015 are presented herein. The study provides evidence of a relationship between killer whale sighting probability and seasonal prey availability. Killer whales were present at the island year-round with a distinct seasonal peak in November–December, and coincident with a peak in occurrence of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) due to breeding season activity, particularly the dispersal of weaned pups. Supporting this association and killer whales’ top-down influence on the survival of juvenile and adult southern elephant seals, pinnipeds accounted for 79% of prey identified, with weaned southern elephant seal pups contributing over a quarter of feeding events observed in the near-shore environment. Fur seals and penguins were also identified as prey. Killer whale groups had a median group size of three individuals, and groups of three to five individuals were most often observed feeding/milling in near-shore waters. The largest range in group sizes were observed during their peak occurrence in early summer, particularly in the number of sub-adult and female whales per group. Adult males made up 75% of single occurrences, and singletons were most often observed travelling. Overall, the ecology of killer whales at Macquarie Island was similar to that of killer whales studied at other Sub-Antarctic locations, with comparable seasonality, behaviour, diet, and group structure. Much remains to be learnt regarding the seasonal movements of whales and their diet at other times of year, their relationship to killer whales sighted in coastal Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic ecosystems, and impact on diet from commercial fisheries operations and fluctuating prey populations.
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Acknowledgements
Many thanks go to those keen-eyed expeditioners who contributed sightings data for killer whales at Macquarie Island. Shannon McKay, Catherine Bell, Marguerite Tarzia and Maria Garcia assisted with the database maintenance. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society are thanked for their support in an early collation of data for a Technical Report by MM.
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TT contributed to data analyses and the writing of the paper; JvdH conceived the research, collected data, contributed to data analyses and the writing of the paper, coordinated author input; KC collected data, contributed to data analyses and the writing of the paper; RR contributed to the writing of the paper; PJNdB contributed to writing the paper; M-AL collected data, contributed to data analyses and the writing of the paper; MM conceived the research, collected data, contributed to data analyses and the writing of the paper, coordinated author input.
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Travers, T., van den Hoff, J., Lea, MA. et al. Aspects of the ecology of killer whale (Orcinus orca Linn.) groups in the near-shore waters of Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Polar Biol 41, 2249–2259 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2361-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2361-y