Abstract
We compared the nonbreeding-season foraging behavior of lactating California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus californianus (Lesson, 1828)) at San Miguel Island, California, during El Niño conditions in 1993 and non-El Niño conditions in 1996. Lactating females were instrumented with satellite-linked time–depth recorders between January and March in 1993 (n = 6) and 1996 (n = 10) and data were collected through May in each year. Females foraged northwest of the colony, up to 367 km from it and 230 km from the California coast. Mean dive depths ranged from 19.5 to 279.3 m, but most females achieved dives deeper than 400 m. Most females fed exclusively in the offshore habitat, traveled farther from the colony, spent more time traveling, made deeper and longer dives, and terminated lactation earlier during the 1993 El Niño. The results suggest that prey were concentrated in the offshore habitat and located farther from the colony and deeper in the water column during El Niño. Females did not change their foraging direction, foraging-trip duration, foraging effort, or prey species consumed.
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