Spatiotemporal variation in marine mammal antipredator behaviors resulting from a predation pinch point

Predator-prey relationships are fundamental aspects of ecological systems that determine the behavior and distribution of animals across time and space. Variation in predation risk can be used to explore when and why individuals perform antipredator behaviors. In marine environments, it is difficult to observe predation and antipredator behaviors. Fortunately, biologgers have long been used to study the distribution and dive behaviors of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) on their twice-yearly foraging trips. Here, we analyzed the horizontal and vertical movements of 353 adult female seals across 17 years to investigate how they move through a “predation pinch point” - an area where predators and prey co-occur due to habitat features. Specifically, we explored the diel timing of departure from and arrival to the colony and spatial concentrations in benthic diving (diving close to/along the seafloor). Benthic diving and temporal concentrations in movement to and from the c..., , # Data from: Spatiotemporal variation in marine mammal antipredator behaviors resulting from a predation pinch point

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.mkkwh71bh](10.5061/dryad.mkkwh71bh)

Publication DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72841](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72841)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Summary

This repository contains the code used to create figures in [Hale et al., 2026](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.72841)

The script 'FiguresForMS_11_21_2025_RSB.qmd\" contains the tools/functions necessary to recreate the figures in the associated manuscript.

Preliminary steps [in 'data_wrangling_RSB_2025_10_29.qmd'] are required to ensure that the data is processed correctly and that bathymetry and predator data are included.

## Files and variables

### Data File Details

#### Details for: TV4_DiveStatType_CMH_2025_07_14.txt

Description: a .txt file containing raw data that was processed for analysis. This file can be opened in any plain te...,