Dear MARMAMers, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication, which shares an observation recorded around Shetland, UK, of a harbour seal seeking refuge within the structure of a mussel farm, attempting to evade a group of foraging killer whales. This observation provides a fascinating example of how these two apex predators are 'living with' anthropogenic structures within the marine environment. The full article is open access, and can be downloaded at https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.4.2022.380 (click the text 'Vol. 48, Iss. 4, Hague' which will then take you to the download page). [A picture containing water, outdoor, water sport, ocean Description automatically generated] Hague, E., McCaffrey, N., Shucksmith, R. & McWhinnie, L. (2022). Predation in the Anthropocene: Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) Utilising Aquaculture Infrastructure as Refuge to Evade Foraging Killer Whales (Orcinus orca). Aquatic Mammals, 48(4), pp380-393. DOI: 10.1578/AM.48.4.2022.380 Abstract: The rapid emergence of new marine developments (e.g., marine renewables, port infrastructure) alongside the substantial growth of existing industries has ultimately resulted in an unprecedented increase in anthropogenic structures within the marine environment over the previous century. Knowledge of whether marine species interact with, avoid, or accommodate and adapt to such structures is essential to ensure that further development of marine environments do not compromise conservation objectives of marine species. This article documents one such interaction. Herein, we describe the observation of a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) seeking refuge from a group of foraging killer whales (Orcinus orca) within a blue (aka common) mussel (Mytilus edulis) farm. Aerial video footage (38 min 27 s) was collected using an unmanned aerial system during an encounter at an aquaculture site in Dury Voe, Shetland, UK. Analysis of the footage showed the killer whale group spent 73.7% of the total encounter time exhibiting predatory associated behaviours and that they were observed interacting with the mussel farm infrastructure only during "predation activity" for a total of 26 min 52 s (72.8%). The harbour seal interacted with the mussel farm infrastructure during re- and proactive anti-predator behaviour and when exhibiting fatigue for 27 min 59 s, 94.4% of the total time the seal was observed. It is clear that both marine and terrestrial predator-prey interactions are increasingly occurring in settings that are in some way defined by the Anthropocene. The implications of this are discussed, including potential entanglement risk and human-altered "landscapes of fear." As comprehension of the potential effects of human-altered risk grows, such knowledge should be taken into consideration prior to further modification of marine habitats. With best wishes, Emily Hague (She/her/hers) PhD Researcher John Muir Building Riccarton, Edinburgh Heriot-Watt University Email: elh2001@hw.ac.uk<mailto:elh2001@hw.ac.uk> Twitter: @emilyhague<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Femilyhague&data=04%7C01%7C%7C223ffae7cee64d97b18f08d9510cb1d9%7C78325161206f4750bbca2c754bb89c4c%7C0%7C0%7C637629937265949032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=9U0dGvcZPhZeu7FxEtIfzQoMoa9cDfNl804Es3PxLHM%3D&reserved=0> Scottish Vessel Project: https://bit.ly/ScottishVesselProject<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FScottishVesselProject&data=04%7C01%7C%7C223ffae7cee64d97b18f08d9510cb1d9%7C78325161206f4750bbca2c754bb89c4c%7C0%7C0%7C637629937265949032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=C7qEUVjFGWITEbqE4YSTTBoOke1gpADOl%2FqHIBV3bz4%3D&reserved=0> [cid:image001.jpg@01D89DB0.39A2DFD0] ________________________________ Founded in 1821, Heriot-Watt is a leader in ideas and solutions. With campuses and students across the entire globe we span the world, delivering innovation and educational excellence in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences. This email is generated from the Heriot-Watt University Group, which includes: 1. Heriot-Watt University, a Scottish charity registered under number SC000278 2. Heriot- Watt Services Limited (Oriam), Scotland's national performance centre for sport. Heriot-Watt Services Limited is a private limited company registered is Scotland with registered number SC271030 and registered office at Research & Enterprise Services Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS. The contents (including any attachments) are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of its contents is strictly prohibited, and you should please notify the sender immediately and then delete it (including any attachments) from your system.
