DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5ds04gg
title: Data from: Local weather and body condition influence habitat use and movements on land of molting female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

description: Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are known to move and aggregate
 while moulting, but little is known about their behaviour on land during
 this time. In this study, 60 adult females were monitored (23 with GPS
 tags) during four moulting seasons, between 2012 and 2016 at Kerguelen
 Archipelago, Indian Ocean. Population surveys were recorded each year (N =
 230 daily counts) and habitat use was analysed in relation to the stage of
 the moult and local weather. Based on stage of moult, habitat use and
 movements on land, we classified the moult of elephant seals into three
 phases: 1) a “search phase” at the initial stage of moult when grass and
 wallow habitats were used and characterised by greater mean distances
 travelled on land per day compared with the two other phases, 2) a
 “resident phase”: during initial and mid-stage of moult when animals were
 found in grass and wallow habitats but with less distance moved on land,
 and 3) a “termination phase” at the final stage of moult where grass and
 beach habitats were occupied with no change in distances. Windchill and
 solar radiation influenced individual distances moved per day (mean 590 ±
 237.0 m) at the mid and final stage of moult, such that animals travelled
 greater distances on days of low windchill or high solar radiation.
 Individual variation in distance moved and relative habitat use were also
 linked to body mass index (BMI) at arrival on the colony, as females with
 higher BMI moved less and preferred beach habitat. Moreover, the
 individual rate of moult increased with the use of wallows. Aggregation
 rate tended to be negatively correlated with distances moved. We therefore
 suggest that individuals face an energetic trade-off while moulting,
 balancing energy expenditure between movement and thermoregulation.
description: GPS_DataRetrieved GPS loggers raw data (latitude and longitude records) for each 23 individuals equipped and monitored during their molt in the field in Kerguelen (colony of Pointe Suzanne) between 2012 and 2016.Individual_DataIndividual data collection of 60 females captured, weighed, measured, equipped (GPS), monitored (daily observations of habitat use, huddling and hair shedding) and recaptured during their moult in Kerguelen (colony of Pointe Suzanne) between 2012 and 2016. Individual rate of habitat use and aggregation rate were calculated for individuals observed at least 3 times each.Quadrat_CountsCounts of the number of elephant seals present daily on each habitat type (Beach, Grass or Wallows) on second quadrat Q' (colony of Pointe Suzanne, Kerguelen) during the molt of adult females in 2014, 2015 and 2016.Weather_QuadratMeteorological variables including air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (m/s) and solar radiation (W/m²) measured at the start of each quadrat Q' count.Weather_StationDaily mean air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (m/s), solar radiation (W/m²) and daily total precipitation recorded by the automatic weather station in Pointe Suzanne (Kerguelen) during field sessions between 2012 and 2016. Dates were selected to correspond to GPS loggers records.