The project led by South Australian Research and Development Institute scientist Doctor Brad Page is revealing critical information about South Australia's seafloor environments, and is revealing valuable insights into the behavior and foraging habits of the endangered Australian sea lion.

 

Sea lions fitted with GPS trackers and a national geographic Crittercam are taking scientists on amazing journeys to previously unknown marine hotspots. These areas are important not only for providing the sea lions food but also for maintaining fish populations. The Crittercams are deployed at dangerous reef in Spancer Gulf，a rocky island the size of a football field and home to the biggest Australian sea lion colony. 

 

Combining the two instruments, the sea lions themselves are showing the researchers behavior never before witnessed by scientists and exactly where and how they feed. It’s answering many questions about the endangered sea lions which will help make sure the areas to be designated as marine parks, protect key sea lion habitat. Doctor Page says one important discovery is that the sea lions always feed on the seafloor and they don’t eat open ocean fish known as pelagic.

 

This is critical information because the marine parks are being set up to protect seafloor habitats，a move that the scientists can now confirm will protect critical sea lion resources. 

 

In one of the more spectacular pieces of Crittercam video so far，we can see this female working hard to handle a challenging prey item, a large octopus. Too big to swallow in one gulp, she drags it to the surface where she can breathe while she works at breaking it down into bite size pieces. At several points the octopus tries to get away，but the sea lion is relentless. She bites off tentacles one by one. The octopus drifts away, but again the sea lion goes back for more of her meal, all the while keeping the prey near the surface where she can take some breath. 

 

The three year project is being conducted by SARDI and the South Australian Department for the environment and heritage，with support from Marine Innovation South Australia.

 

 

由黑舞蝴蝶在 整理的原文：

Australian sea lions are lending a hand or maybe a flipper in the establishment of South Australia's marine parks. And along the way the national geographic Crittercam captured a never before seen act of predation，a sea lion capturing and eating a large octopus. 

 

 

 

The project led by South Australian Research and Development Institute scientist Doctor Brad Page is revealing critical information about South Australia's seafloor environments, and is revealing valuable insights into the behavior and foraging habits of the endangered Australian sea lion.

 

 

 

Sea lions fitted with GPS trackers and a national geographic Crittercam are taking scientists on amazing journeys to previously unknown marine hotspots. These areas are important not only for providing the sea lions food but also for maintaining fish populations. The Crittercams are deployed at dangerous reef in Spancer Gulf，a rocky island the size of a football field and home to the biggest Australian sea lion colony. 

 

 

 

Combining the two instruments, the sea lions themselves are showing the researchers behavior never before witnessed by scientists and exactly where and how they feed. It’s answering many questions about the endangered sea lions which will help make sure the areas to be designated as marine parks, protect key sea lion habitat. Doctor Page says one important discovery is that the sea lions always feed on the seafloor and they don’t eat open ocean fish known as pelagic.

 

 

 

This is critical information because the marine parks are being set up to protect seafloor habitats，a move that the scientists can now confirm will protect critical sea lion resources. 

 

 

 

In one of the more spectacular pieces of Crittercam video so far，we can see this female working hard to handle a challenging prey item, a large octopus. Too big to swallow in one gulp, she drags it to the surface where she can breathe while she works at breaking it down into bite size pieces. At several points the octopus tries to get away，but the sea lion is relentless. She bites off tentacles one by one. The octopus drifts away, but again the sea lion goes back for more of her meal, all the while keeping the prey near the surface where she can take some breath. 

 

 

 

The three year project is being conducted by SARDI and the South Australian Department for the environment and heritage，with support from Marine Innovation South Australia.