The leopard seal as a barometer of climate warming Presentation by Tracey Rogers With support from: The tall poppy is a metaphor for excellence and symbolises Australia’s pride in its outstanding achievers – in all fields.
AMMRC 2007 AMMRC Director Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre (University of NSW/ ZPB) 22 programs Evolution & Ecology Research Centre UNSW
Western Antarctic Peninsula
Glacial retreat
Calving ice-bergs Image from Canadian Space Agency & Centre for Remote Sensing
Krill decline Atkinson et al. (2004) Nature 432:
Penguin colony declines Fraser & Hofmann (2003) Mar.Ecol.Prog.Ser. 265: 1-15
AMMRC Australia Dr T. Rogers Australia AMMRC Top-order predators UK Chile Ms I. Hebel Mosses & lichens Germany ClicOPEN Germany Prof D. Abele Climate Change Western Antarctic Peninsula Brazil Netherlands USA Dr I. Overeem Sediment analysis Belgium Dr C. De Broyer Data management Netherlands France UK Poland Germany Brazil Mexico South Africa Germany Chile DRAKE BIOSEAS Argentina Dr V. Andrea biodiversity & human impacts CAML Australia Prof M. Stoddart Census of Antarctic Marine Life Brazil Ukraine Italy India UK New Zealand RussiaPoland USA France Norway Canada USA Argentina Dr G. Ferreyra Plankton UK Australia Italy Prof. G. di Prisco Evolution & biodiversity in the Antarctic Germany Netherlands Spain Prof A. Eraso Spain Glacier networks Norway Korea Italy France Uruguay Impacts of climate change
Top of the food chain
Influence on habitat needs
Are the seals drifting with the ice?
Acoustic surveys
Detection Threshold Distance (r) Source Level (SL) Transmission Loss (TL) Background noise (NL) Predict survey area
Remote sensing data Acoustic survey ACC Bathymetry Ice data
Morphometrics
WAP leopard seals
Changes in Prey?
Changes in Diet
13 C Prey Location 15 N Prey Trophic Position
Changes over the Past Century
Today 784 species extinct 65 are only in captivity 16,119 threatened 2006 IUCN Red List Threatened Species
Thomas et al Nature % species committed to extinction Tomorrow
Why do I care?
What inspired me
My plan
Juggling life/work balance?
Thank You
ammrc.org.au