Caracterização Oceanográfica de Áreas Ecologicamente Favoráveis para Elefantes- Marinhos do Sul (Mirounga leonina) na Antártica através de Telemetria ARGOS
This paper describes two preferential regions for foraging of Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina), in the adjacent region of Abbott Ice Shelf and the adjacent region of Alexander I Island, Marguerite Bay, Wilkins Sound and Joinvile Island. The collected oceanographic data help in the description of oceanic vertical structure and in identified the water masses in these areas. We show the seasonal variation of each region on the vertical ocean structure and identify the water masses presents in these regions using data collected by elephant seals with CTD-SRDLs. Are identified the follow water masses: Winter Water (WW), Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) and Antarctic Surface Water (AASW). Occurs a variation of about 3\ub0 C in such areas in superficial waters from end of summer until late winter of 2008 and showed the inversion of the thermocline in the same period. The variations of superficial temperatures are a response of the oceanic coverage, in summer is free and in winter the cap of ice. The use of marine mammals gives an alternative to remote sensing of polar regions, lack or no monitored, with quality oceanic data in quasi-real time.Pages: 7145-715
