Lightscapes of fear: How mesopredators balance starvation and predation in the open ocean

Like landscapes of fear, animals are hypothesized to strategically use lightscapes based on intrinsic motivations. However, longitudinal evidence of state-dependent risk aversion has been difficult to obtain in wild animals. Using high-resolution biologgers, we continuously measured body condition, time partitioning, three-dimensional movement, and risk exposure of 71 elephant seals throughout their 7-month foraging migrations (N = 16,000 seal days). As body condition improved from 21 to 32% fat and daylength declined from 16 to 10 hours, seals rested progressively earlier with respect to sunrise, sacrificing valuable nocturnal foraging hours to rest in the safety of darkness. Seals in superior body condition prioritized safety over energy conservation by resting >100 meters deeper where it was 300x darker. Together, these results provide empirical evidence that marine mammals actively use the three-dimensional lightscape to optimize risk-reward trade-offs based on ecological and physiological factors.

Automated summary

Continuously monitoring 71 elephant seals throughout their 7-month foraging migrations revealed that they adjust activity time based on body condition and daylength, prioritizing rest in darkness for safety. This empirical evidence demonstrates that marine mammals actively optimize risk-reward trade-offs using the three-dimensional lightscape.