10.5061/DRYAD.G8G20
Benoit-Bird, Kelly J.
Oregon State University
Southall, Brandon L.
Oregon State University
Moline, Mark A.
University of Delaware
Data from: Predator-guided sampling reveals biotic structure in the
bathypelagic
Dryad
dataset
2016
Deep-sea
Acoustics
pelagic
Ziphius cavirostris
2016-01-30T19:34:16Z
2016-01-30T19:34:16Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.2457
24978 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
We targeted habitat used differentially by deep-diving, air-breathing
predators to empirically sample their prey’s distributions off southern
California. Fine-scale measurements of the spatial variability of
potential prey animals from the surface to 1200 m were obtained using
conventional fisheries echosounders aboard a surface ship and uniquely
integrated into a deep-diving autonomous vehicle. Significant spatial
variability in the size, composition, total biomass, and spatial
organization of biota was evident over all spatial scales examined and was
consistent with the general distribution patterns of foraging Cuvier’s
beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) observed in separate studies. Striking
differences were found in prey characteristics between regions at depth,
however, did not reflect differences observed in surface layers. These
differences in deep pelagic structure horizontally and relative to surface
structure, absent clear physical differences, change our long-held views
of this habitat as uniform. The revelation that animals deep in the water
column are so spatially heterogeneous at scales from 10 m to 50 km
critically affects our understanding of the processes driving
predator-prey interactions, energy transfer, biogeochemical cycling and
other ecological processes in the deep sea, and the connections between
the productive surface mixed layer and the deep water column.
Target relative frequency responseThe frequency response (38-120 kHz) of
single targets identified between 900 and 1200 m for each transect type
(low, alternate, high Ziphius use).Relative frequency response.xlsxTarget
strengthThe target strength distribution of single targets consistent with
squid between 900 and 1200 m within three sampling zones (high, alternate,
and low Ziphius use).
Southern California
San Clemente Island