Kienle SS, Cacanindin A, Kendall T, Richter B, Ribeiro-French C, Castle L, Lentes G, Costa DP and Mehta RS 2019. Hawaiian monk seals exhibit behavioral flexibility when targeting prey of different size and shape. Journal of Experimental Biology, jeb-194985.
Abstract: Animals use diverse feeding strategies to
capture and consume prey, with
many species switching between strategies to accommodate different prey. Many marine animals exhibit behavioral flexibility
when feeding to deal with spatial and temporal heterogeneity in prey resources.
However, little is known
about flexibility in the feeding behavior of many large marine predators. Here,
we documented the feeding behavior and kinematics of the critically endangered Hawaiian
monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi, n=7)
through controlled feeding trials. Seals were fed multiple prey types (e.g., night
smelt, capelin, squid, and herring) that varied in size and shape to examine
behavioral flexibility in feeding. Hawaiian monk seals primarily used suction
feeding (91% of all feeding trials) across all prey types, but biting,
specifically pierce feeding, was also observed (9% of all feeding trials). Suction
feeding was characterized by shorter temporal events, a smaller maximum gape
and gape angle, and a fewer number of jaw motions than pierce feeding; suction
feeding kinematic performance was also more variable compared to pierce
feeding. Seals showed behavioral flexibility in their use of the two
strategies. Suction feeding was used most frequently when targeting small to
medium sized prey and biting was used with increasing frequency on larger prey.
The feeding kinematics differed between feeding strategies and prey types, showing
that Hawaiian monk seals adjusted their behaviors to particular feeding
contexts. Hawaiian monk seals are opportunistic marine predators and their
ability to adapt their feeding strategy and behavior to specific foraging
scenarios allows them to target diverse prey resources.
PhD Candidate
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(512) 413-6431
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