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Integrating disparate datasets to model the functional response of a marine predator: a case study of harbour porpoises in the southern North Sea
  • +2
  • Janneke Ransijn,
  • Phillip Hammond,
  • Mardik Leopold,
  • Signe Sveegaard,
  • Sophie Smout
Janneke Ransijn
University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Phillip Hammond
University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute
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Mardik Leopold
Wageningen University and Research Wageningen Marine Research
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Signe Sveegaard
Aarhus University
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Sophie Smout
University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute
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Abstract

1. Quantifying consumption and prey choice for marine predator species is key to understanding their interaction with prey species, fisheries, and the ecosystem as a whole. However, parameterising a functional response for large predators can be challenging because of the difficulty in obtaining the required datasets on predator diet and the availability of multiple prey species. 2. This study modelled a Multi-Species Functional Response (MSFR) to describe the relationship between consumption by harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and the availability of multiple prey species in the southern North Sea. Bayesian methodology was employed to estimate MSFR parameters and to incorporate uncertainties in diet and prey availability estimates. Prey consumption was estimated from stomach contents data of stranded harbour porpoises. Prey availability to harbour porpoises was estimated based on the spatial overlap between prey distributions, estimated from fish survey data, and porpoise foraging range in the days prior to stranding predicted from telemetry data. 3. Results indicated a strong preference for sandeel in the study area. Prey switching behaviour (change in preference dependent on prey abundance) was confirmed by the favoured Type III functional response model. Variation in the size of the foraging range (estimated area where harbour porpoises could have foraged prior to stranding) did not alter the overall pattern of the results or conclusions. 4. Integrating datasets on prey consumption from strandings, predator foraging distribution using telemetry and prey availability from fish surveys into the modelling approach provides a methodological framework that may be appropriate for fitting MSFRs for other predators.
19 Apr 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
20 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
10 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Sep 20211st Revision Received
21 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Dec 2021Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 11 issue 23 on pages 17458-17470. 10.1002/ece3.8380