Immature Steller sea lion ( Eumetopias jubatus ) dive activity in relation to habitat features of the eastern Aleutian Islands

Abstract

Current flow and bathymetry in the Aleutian Islands define unique habitats that influence prey distribution and foraging behaviour of top‐level predators. We explored whether oceanographic features and bathymetry influenced the diving activity of 30 immature sea lions (ages 5–21 months) equipped with satellite‐linked depth recorders in the eastern Aleutian Islands (EAI) during 2000–02. Sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll a concentrations were obtained from remote sensing satellite imagery and associated with locations where sea lion diving was recorded. Most locations associated with diving to >4 m were within 10 nautical miles (nm) of shore and associated with onshelf waters a concentrations, but also with sea lion age. Associations with habitat features did not consistently explain variability in dive count, time at depth, dive focus or focal depth. Nearshore diving tended to be influenced by distance from shore or seafloor depth, whereas increased SST coincided with activity of sea lions diving >30 nm offshore. Immature sea lions developing into independent foragers in the relatively shallow pass areas of the EAI do so at a time of rapid changes in oceanography and prey availability.

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