Pozas, A., D., Rosen, A.W., Trites & C., Hernández Camacho (2022). The role of diet quality in divergent population trends of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in Mexico and the USA. 24th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Florida, Estados Unidos de América, agosto 1 - 5, 2022, 509.
Ana Pozas 1, David Rosen 1, Andrew W. Trites 1 y Claudia Hernández Camacho 2
Although the global population of California sealions (Zalophus californianus) has increased inrecent decades, declines have occurredthroughout the Gulf of California (GoC), Mexicoat an annual rate of 2% between 1984 – 2015. Insharp contrast, sea lion populations within theChannel Islands, USA (the major speciesbreeding site) have increased at a rate of 7%between 1975 – 2014. We investigated whetherdifferences or shifts in diet could explain thedivergent population trajectories between andwithin groups of rookeries in the GoC andChannel Islands. We divided the GoC rookeriesinto multiple zones based on similarities ingeographic proximity and populationtrajectories. We also combined published andunpublished dietary data and census counts totest whether there is a relationship betweenhistorical (1980s – present) population trends andaspects of diet quality, including energy density,prey availability, and diet diversity. Preliminaryfindings suggest there is a link between dietquality and population trends, which may be keyto understanding the population drivers andfuture trajectories of California sea lions andother pinnipeds.
Palabras clave: ecología alimentaria; Pinnípedos; alimentación; Golfo de California
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