RESEARCH/REVIEW ARTICLE Foraging ecology of ringed seals (Pusa hispida), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhals (Monodon monoceros)in the Canadian High Arctic determined by stomach content and stable isotope analysis Jordan K. Matley,1 Aaron T. Fisk2 & Terry A. Dick3 1 Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia 2 Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada 3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada Keywords Abstract Arctic marine mammals; stable isotopes; Stomach content and stable isotope analysis (d13C and d15N from liver and stomach contents; Bayesian mixing models; diet; Arctic cod. muscle) were used to identify habitat and seasonal prey selection by ringed seals (Pusa hispida; n21), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas; n13) Correspondence and narwhals (Monodon monoceros; n3) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Jordan K. Matley, College of Marine Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) was the main prey item of all three species. Diet and Environmental Sciences, James Cook reconstruction from otoliths and stable isotope analysis revealed that while University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. ringed seal size influenced prey selection patterns, it was variable. Prey-size E-mail:
[email protected] selection and on-site observations found that ringed seals foraged on smaller, non-schooling cod whereas belugas and narwhals consumed larger individuals in schools. Further interspecific differences were demonstrated by d13C and d15N values and indicated that ringed seals consumed inshore Arctic cod compared to belugas and narwhals, which foraged to a greater extent offshore.