Abstract
As large carnivores recover from over-exploitation, managers often lack evidence-based information on species habitat requirements and the efficacy of management practices, particularly where species repopulate areas from which they have long been extirpated. We investigated the movement and habitat use by 2 semi-aquatic carnivores (Australian fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus and New Zealand fur seals A. forsteri) at the northern end of their distributions in Australia, where after a long absence both are recolonising their historic range. We also assessed male fur seal habitat use overlap with terrestrial and marine protected areas (PAs). While at the margin of the range during winter and early spring, the males remained inshore close to terrestrial sites and where interactions with humans often occur. From early spring, the males from the range margin showed uniform movement toward colonies in the core of the species’ range prior to their breeding seasons. This contrasts with males tracked from the core of the species’ range that returned periodically to colonies during the year, and highlights the importance of range-wide monitoring of a species to inform conservation planning. Habitat use by some males included over 90% of a marine PA at the margin of the species’ range. Most terrestrial haul-outs used were within terrestrial PAs, while sites not protected were on the margin of the range. Despite wide-ranging habits, their dependence on coastal sites, where human access and activities can be regulated and more readily enforced, suggests that terrestrial and marine PAs will continue to play an important role in managing the recovery of these fur seals.
Highlights
Conservation efforts have increased the population sizes of many large carnivores, and have either expanded their ranges or allowed recovery into histori-Publisher: Inter-Research · www.int-res.comEndang Species Res 45: 181–194, 20212003, Miller et al 2013)
As with other semi-aquatic species, interactions between fur seals and humans occur on land and at sea, with fisheries, aquaculture and tourism industries and the general public (Kirkwood et al 2003, Shaughnessy et al 2003, Robinson et al 2008b), and are likely to increase as seal populations continue to recover and industries develop (Schumann et al 2013)
We investigated the on-land and at-sea movements and habitat use by 2 species of fur seals that reside in the expanding margin of their range
Summary
Conservation efforts have increased the population sizes of many large carnivores, and have either expanded their ranges or allowed recovery into histori-. As with other semi-aquatic species, interactions between fur seals and humans occur on land and at sea, with fisheries, aquaculture and tourism industries and the general public (Kirkwood et al 2003, Shaughnessy et al 2003, Robinson et al 2008b), and are likely to increase as seal populations continue to recover and industries develop (Schumann et al 2013). Movements and habitat use by male fur seals at the periphery of both species’ geographic range are unknown: this is the case in New South Wales, along the east coast of Australia, where the population is growing and a breeding population recently established (Warneke 1975, Irvine et al 1997, Hardy et al 2017) This continuing expansion along the margin of their range is likely to see an increase in human−wildlife conflict, and humans appear to be less experienced and prepared for this type of conflict (Shaughnessy et al 2008). This may help conservation managers to identify habitats into which the population might expand; connectivity between core and peripheral populations was investigated
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