Space use and foraging strategies of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Nearly 30 years after stocks collapsed and fishing moratoriums were implemented in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, certain species of commercial interest such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are still struggling to recover. According to several studies, predation by a growing population of grey seals is contributing to this phenomenon. In addition to predation, competition for food resources between these species and grey seals could play a role. However, little is known about the space use and foraging strategies of grey seals, and even less is known about how these have changed with the explosion of the population, shifts in prey abundance and climate change. My project, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, aims to better understand the spatial and foraging ecology of grey seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Using data from GPS transmitters, stomach contents and aerial surveys, I aim to discern foraging areas, characterize the diet and identify whelping sites of seals in the Gulf and to verify the presence of temporal changes in theses variables. |
Pier-Olivier CussonCandidat au doctorat
|