Marine biologists have attached cameras to eight female sea lions to learn more about their behaviour and the habitats where they hunt.
Nathan Angelakis at the South Australian Research and Development Institute and his colleagues sedated endangered Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) from Olive Island and Seal Bay in South Australia in December 2022 and August 2023, then glued cameras and GPS trackers to their bodies.
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The researchers were able to record video down to a depth of 115 metres, witnessing foraging trips that lasted up to six days and gaining an insight into the life of the sea lions.
鈥淲e got footage of some amazing interactions,鈥� says Angelakis. 鈥淲e have footage of a sea lion swimming through a pod of common dolphins as they are feeding on a big ball of sardines. We even got footage of a sea lion giving a bronze whaler shark a nip on the tail.鈥�
The scientists also captured video of a mother taking her pup on a trip to sea. 鈥淭his provided the first direct evidence we have that Australian sea lion mothers pass on foraging skills to pups,鈥� says Angelakis.
鈥淭he video also provides really valuable information about the marine environment more broadly, which we can use to map habitats and the distributions of other key marine species too.鈥�
The team used a tagging protocol that has been refined over decades, in partnership with experienced wildlife veterinarians, to minimise any impacts on the animals.
The instruments are small, low-profile and weigh less than 1 per cent of the animal鈥檚 weight in order to reduce any disturbances, says Angelakis.
Females were chosen for this project as they are the sole carers of sea lion pups, but, in the future, the team hopes to also target males and juveniles.
鈥淗aving a view of the marine world from the perspective of a predator, rather than from an anthropocentric perspective, can better highlight what areas, habitats, behaviours and prey are ecologically valuable to these species,鈥� says Angelakis. 鈥淚n future, this type of information will be critical for better managing marine species and environments.鈥�
Frontiers in Marine Science
