Nathan Angelakis
My PhD through The University of Adelaide and SARDI (Aquatic Sciences) is focused on using animal-borne cameras and innovative GPS and accelerometers/magnetometers to identify and map foraging behaviours and critical habitats for Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea). Over the last ~42 years, Australian sea lion populations have declined by 64 %, with the species listed as endangered by both the IUCN and EPBC Act. The information collected from these animal-attached sensors provides fundamental information to support our understanding of foraging strategies and habitat and prey preferences for Australian sea lions.
Australian sea lions are benthic predators, which centre their foraging on maximising bottom time. Previous studies have identified extreme fidelity to natal foraging areas, which individuals maintain throughout their lives as well as the fine-scale genetic structuring of Australian sea lion populations. Management of Australian sea lions must therefore be targeted at the colony level. This requires an intimate understanding of key habitats and inter-individual/inter-colony specialisation in foraging, which is not well understood for the species. The use of animal-borne video can hence provide improved management/conservation of the species, informing state and commonwealth marine reserve planning around habitats, areas and prey resources that are key for Australian sea lion populations.
Abstracts this author is presenting: