PolE At Sea Observations of Birds and Marine Mammals during PS 81 (ANT-XXIX/4)

Study Extent

Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Sampling

Transect counts were devoted to seabird and marine mammal observation. The transect counts were lasting half an hour, without width limitation from the bridge at 18 m above sea level on a continuous basis, light and visibility allowing (see description and discussion in Joiris 2007 ; Joiris and Falck 2010 ). The animals were detected with the naked eye, and observations confirmed and complemented with binoculars (10 9 42) when useful; photographic documents were also used, especially for species difficult to identify. Results are presented as basic unmodified data, i.e. numbers encountered per half-an-hour transect count. Density was also calculated on the basis of specific detection limits established by this team in function of size, colour and behaviour (jizz) (Joiris 2007 ; Joiris and Falck 2010 ) and mean ship’s speed: 10 knots in open water and 5 knots in ice covered areas. Water temperature and salinity were continuously recorded on board Polarstern with a thermo-salinometer at subsurface sampling (keel - 10 m). Ice cover was evaluated by us from the bridge and expressed as % coverage within an approximate range of 500 m around the ship.

Method steps

1. /

Birds and Mammals

1. Aptenodytes patagonicus
   common name: King Penguin rank: species
2. Pygoscelis papua
   common name: Gentoo Penguin rank: species
3. Pygoscelis antarcticus
   common name: Chinstrap Penguin rank: species
4. Eudyptes chrysolophus
   common name: Macaroni Penguin rank: species
5. Spheniscidae
   common name: Penguin sp. rank: species
6. Eudyptes chrysocome
   common name: Rockhopper Penguin rank: species
7. Thalassarche chrysostoma
   common name: Grey-headed Albatross rank: species
8. Thalassarche melanophris
   common name: Black-browed Albatross rank: species
9. Phoebetria fusca
   common name: Sooty Albatross rank: species
10. Phoebetria palpebrata
    common name: Light-mantled Albatross rank: species
11. Diomedea epomophora
    common name: Royal Albatross (Southern) rank: species
12. Diomedea exulans
    common name: Wandering Albatross rank: species
13. Diomedea
    common name: Royal/Wandering Albatross rank: species
14. Macronectes giganteus
    common name: Southern Giant-Petrel rank: species
15. Macronectes halli
    common name: Northern Giant-Petrel rank: species
16. Macronectes
    common name: Giant-Petrel sp. rank: species
17. Fulmarus glacialoides
    common name: Southern Fulmar rank: species
18. Daption capense
    common name: Cape Petrel rank: species
19. Pagodroma nivea
    common name: Snow Petrel
20. Aphrodroma brevirostris
    common name: Kerguelen Petrel
21. Pterodroma macroptera
    common name: Great-winged Petrel
22. Pterodroma mollis
    common name: Soft-plumaged Petrel
23. Pterodroma incerta
    common name: Atlantic Petrel
24. Halobaena caerulea
    common name: Blue Petrel
25. Pachyptila turtur
    common name: Fairy Prion
26. Pachyptila vittata
    common name: Antarctic Prion
27. Pachyptila belcheri
    common name: Slender-billed Prion
28. Pachyptila
    common name: Prion sp.
29. Procellaria cinerea
    common name: Grey Petrel
30. Procellaria aequinoctialis
    common name: White-chinned Petrel
31. Puffinus gravis
    common name: Great Shearwater
32. Puffinus griseus
    common name: Sooty Shearwater
33. Oceanites oceanicus
    common name: Wilson s Storm-Petrel rank: species
34. Hydrobatidae
    common name: Storm-Petrel sp. rank: species
35. Garrodia nereis
    common name: Grey-backed Storm-Petrel rank: species
36. Fregetta tropica
    common name: Black-bellied Storm-Petrel rank: species
37. Pelecanoides urinatrix
    common name: Common Diving-Petrel rank: species
38. Pelecanoididae
    common name: Diving-Petrel sp. rank: species
39. Phalacrocorax atriceps georgianus
    common name: South Georgia Shag rank: species
40. Bubulcus ibis
    common name: Cattle Egret rank: species
41. Chionis albus
    common name: Snowy Sheathbill rank: species
42. Phalarope sp.
    rank: species
43. Sterna vittata
    common name: Antarctic Tern rank: species
44. Stercorarius antarcticus
    common name: Brown skua rank: species
45. Arctocephalus
    common name: Fur Seal sp. rank: species
46. Mirounga leonina
    common name: Southern Elephant Seal rank: species
47. Phocidae
    common name: Seal sp. rank: species
48. Lagenorhynchus cruciger
    common name: Hourglass dolphin rank: species
49. Delphinidae
    common name: Dolphin sp.
50. Orcinus orca
    common name: Killer whale rank: species
51. Balaenoptera physalus
    common name: Fin Whale rank: species
52. Eubalaena australis
    common name: Southern Right Whale rank: species
53. Megaptera novaeangliae
    common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
54. Cetacea
    common name: Whale sp.

Punta Arenas to the North Scotia Sea Ridge, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Trench and back to the Falkland Islands/islas Malvinas