The nightscape of the Arctic winter shapes the diving behavior of a marine predator
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Predator–prey interactions in marine ecosystems are dynamically influenced by light, as demonstrated by diel vertical migrations of low-trophic level organisms. At high latitudes, the long winter nights can provide foraging opportunities for marine predators targeting vertically migrating prey closer to the surface at night. However, there is limited documentation of such diel patterns in marine predators under extreme light regimes. To address this, we recorded the diving behavior of 17 harbour porpoises just south of the Arctic circle in West Greenland, from summer to winter. Unlike classical diel vertical migration, the porpoises dove 24–37% deeper at night and the frequency of deep dives (> 100 m) increased tenfold as they entered the darkest months. The daily mean depth was negatively correlated with daylength, suggesting an increased diving activity when approaching the polar night. Our findings suggest a light-mediated strategy in which harbour porpoises would either target (i) benthic prey, (ii) pelagic prey migrating seasonally towards the seafloor, or (iii) vertically migrating prey that may be otherwise inaccessible in deeper waters at night, therefore maximizing feeding activity during extended periods of darkness. Extreme light regimes observed at high latitudes are therefore critical in structuring pelagic communities and food webs.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Artikelnummer | 3908 |
Tidsskrift | Scientific Reports |
Vol/bind | 14 |
Udgave nummer | 1 |
Antal sider | 9 |
ISSN | 2045-2322 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 2024 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:
PC was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 48068 (project WARMM). The project was supported by the Greenland Ministry of Education, Church, Culture & Gender Equality, the Danish Cooperation for the Environment in the Arctic (DANCEA, Danish Ministry of the Environment) and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
ID: 384025810