As part of our efforts in conservation research of Punta San Juan Program we are following individuals of some of the key species that live in the Punta San Juan reserve in order to understand how they make use of the marine environment.
Since the 1980s, as part of the Punta San Juan Program we count animals routinely in the reserve to understand the state of their populations and the role of the reserve in their life cycle. To achieve this, scientific information is collected about how animals reproduce and raise their pups / chicks when on land. For coastal marine coastal species such as pinnipeds and seabirds that spend their lives split between land and sea, much of their survival will depend on how successful animals are at getting food in the marine environment. Coastal areas are also necessary so that they can rest, reproduce, incubate (seabirds) and rear their offspring.
In 2015 - 2016 we are in the midst of an El Niño event, during which prey (e.g. fish, squid and squat lobster) could change distribution and availability due to warming of ocean waters. This may force animals to travel farther distances from the coast or make deeper dives to find enough food for themselves and their offspring.
To understand how our species cope with changes in the marine ecosystem of the Humboldt Current we have deployed equipment that is specifically designed for marine animals and transmits the geographical location of the animal via satellite.
These satellite transmitters are attached with a special glue to the heads or backs of fur seals and sea lions. The weight, size, and shape are specifically designed not to harm the animal and they will fall off when the animal?s shed their fur.
We are collecting information on foraging behavior of these species, because we are interested in better understanding how these marine species are adapted to reach their energetic requirements on the marine environment of Punta San Juan in normal years and also in the difficult years, when the distribution of the food varies.
In November 2015 we have placed satellite transmitters on the two species of pinnipeds that live on the coast of Peru.
Here you can see their foraging trips in real time!
In November 2015 we have placed satellite transmitters in the two species of pinnipeds that live on the coast of Peru.
Here you can see their foraging trips in real time!
South American fur seals
- Arctocephalus australis
8 satellite transmitters have been deployed on adult female South American fur seals, all of which have given birth to a pup in breeding season of November 2015. To raise her pup, each female will have to make short feeding trips to come back as fast as possible to nurse her pup to ensure its survival and growth. We want to know how far these females will travel from Punta San Juan this El Niño year...
South American sea lions
- Otaria flavescens
8 satellite transmitters have been deployed on subadult male South American sea lions. Since they are not territorial males, these individuals have no obligation to return to the coast to raise a pup or breed. Coastal areas, islands and islets are used to rest between foraging trips. We want to know how far subadult males will go this year ... and where... ¿south? north?
