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Death age, seasonality, taphonomy and colonization of seal carcasses from Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula
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SYSNO ASEP 0472596 Document Type J - Journal Article R&D Document Type Journal Article Subsidiary J Článek ve WOS Title Death age, seasonality, taphonomy and colonization of seal carcasses from Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula Author(s) Nývlt, D. (CZ)
Nývltová Fišáková, Miriam (ARUB-Q) RID, SAI, ORCID
Barták, M. (CZ)
Stachoň, Z. (CZ)
Pavel, V. (CZ)
Mlčoch, B. (CZ)
Láska, K. (CZ)Source Title Antarctic Science. - : Cambridge University Press - ISSN 0954-1020
Roč. 28, č. 1 (2016), s. 3-16Number of pages 14 s. Publication form Print - P Language eng - English Country GB - United Kingdom Keywords James Ross Island ; preservation state ; Prince Gustav Channel ; sea ice ; seal behaviour Subject RIV EH - Ecology, Behaviour Institutional support ARUB-Q - RVO:68081758 UT WOS 000372521000002 EID SCOPUS 84952636873 DOI 10.1017/S095410201500036X Annotation The origin and nature of seal carcasses scattered around the Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, is examined using robust and novel multidisciplinary analysis. Spatial distribution analysis indicates their predominance at low elevations and on surfaces with negligible slope. The seals died throughout the last century. Dental cement increments indicate that the seals died in late winter, and we interpret this to show an influence of the persistence and break-up of sea ice and the appearance of pools/cracks in the northern Prince Gustav Channel on death. Specifically, after being trapped by a late winter freeze-up the seals search for open water, become disoriented by snow-covered flat valleys and move inland. Carcasses from all age groups of crabeater seal are found on land, but inland movement is less notable for Weddell and leopard seals. Although most carcasses appear to have remained unchanged during the last 10 years due to the cold and dry conditions, a few carcasses that are located in sites of snow accumulation and subsequent melting have undergone enhanced decay. Decaying seal carcasses represent loci of nutrient release in a nutrient deficient environment and are colonized by algae, cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses. This research suggests further useful studies for the future. Workplace Institute of Archaeology (Brno) Contact Hedvika Břínková, brinkova@arub.cz, Tel.: +420 515 911 112 Year of Publishing 2017
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