Foraging ecology of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and its effects on the benthic community in the Arctic

During the next 3 years, we will perform a series of investigations to explore the dynamics of bearded seal foraging and the effects of these activities on benthic communities of the Arctic. We will: 1) complete data collection from our captive bearded se al experiments in one final set of trials that includes pressure measurements (and also finish analysing and writing up the previously commenced anatomical investigations and biokinematic studies with the captive animals); 2) deploy cameras on bearded sea ls in the wild to document their foraging activities and its physical impacts on the substrate; 3) explore the relationship between the animals actual behaviour and assessments of behaviour based on dive profiles alone; and 4) directly explore benthic com munity assemblages at, near and outside bearded seal foraging areas in order to assess the impacts of bearded seal feeding on the benthic communities composition and productivity in the Arctic. This programme will add significantly to our knowledge of bea rded seal ecology and the dynamics of benthic community structure in the Arctic.