ISOMOVE: Antarctic Fur Seal Stable Isotopes and Tracking Data from Three Colonies

Stable isotope and geolocation data from adult female Antarctic fur seals collected at three breeding colonies across the Southern Ocean between 2008 and 2018. The dataset includes bulk stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and compound-specific amino acid isotope data from blood and whiskers, alongside light-based geolocation tracking with environmental variables. Data were collected by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with the record last updated in July 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling trophic position and foraging habitat based on compound-specific amino acid isotope data (δ¹⁵NAA).
• Reconstructing multi-year dietary histories based on sequential isotopic analysis of whisker sections.
• Analyzing inter-breeding migration routes and environmental associations based on GLS-derived tracking data.
• Comparing foraging ecology across different breeding colonies (Marion Island, Bird Island, Cape Shirreff).

Strengths

• Data spans a 10-year period (2008–2018) for at least one location, Marion Island.
• Integrates multiple data types: stable isotopes from two tissue types (blood, whiskers) and geolocation tracking.
• Includes compound-specific amino acid isotope analysis (CSIA-AA), which provides detailed trophic information.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, as it is focused on three specific breeding colonies.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Samples collected from captured adult female seals; isotope analysis of blood and whiskers; light-based geolocation (GLS) tracking.

Time Range

2008–2018

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 11:39:32.121275; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Three breeding colonies in the Southern Ocean: Marion Island, Bird Island (South Georgia), Cape Shirreff (South Shetland Islands).