Seal census raw data of campaigns EMAGE I to V between 1996 and 2000 with links to datasets

The development of models of marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean is becoming increasingly important as a means of understanding and managing impacts such as exploitation and climate change. Collating data from disparate sources, and understanding biases or uncertainties inherent in those data, are important first steps for improving ecosystem models. This review focuses on seals that breed in ice habitats of the Southern Ocean (i.e. the crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophaga; Ross seal, Ommatophoca rossii; leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx; and Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii). Data on populations (abundance and trends in abundance), distribution and habitat use (movement, key habitat and environmental features) and foraging (diet) are summarised, and potential biases and uncertainties inherent in those data are identified and discussed. Spatial and temporal gaps in knowledge of the populations, habitats and diet of each species are also identified.

南大洋海洋生态系统模型的开发，作为理解、管控捕捞与气候变化等人类活动影响的重要手段，其重要性与日俱增。从各类分散数据源整合数据，并厘清这些数据固有的偏倚与不确定性，是优化生态系统模型的关键前置步骤。本综述聚焦于在南大洋冰生境繁殖的海豹类，具体包括食蟹海豹（Lobodon carcinophaga）、罗斯海豹（Ommatophoca rossii）、豹形海豹（Hydrurga leptonyx）以及威德尔海豹（Leptonychotes weddellii）。本文综述了三类核心数据：种群相关数据（种群数量及数量变化趋势）、分布与生境利用数据（移动模式、关键生境与环境特征）以及觅食行为数据（食性组成）；同时明确并探讨了这些数据中潜在的固有偏倚与不确定性。此外，本研究还识别出当前学界对各物种的种群、生境及食性认知上存在的空间与时间尺度数据空白。