The diet of free-ranging male Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the eastern Bering Sea: a retrospective analysis based on stomach contents of an endangered pinniped

This study illuminates historical diet and foraging locations of endangered western U.S. stock Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)). Prey were identified from stomachs of 22 males collected in the eastern Bering Sea from the ice edge in March, 1985, and nearshore St. Paul Island in September-October, 1985 and 1986. Percent frequency of occurrence (PFO) and number (PN) were highest for walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus (Pallas, 1814); PFO 69, PN 15, mean length 17 cm), Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii Valenciennes, 1847; PFO 62, PN 16, mean length 26 cm), shorthorn sculpin (Myoexocephalus scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); PFO 54, PN 30) and Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini (Wulker, 1910); PFO 39, PN 8, mean wt 31 kg) in spring; and northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra Orr Matarese, 2000; PFO 78, PN 47, mean length 35cm), Pacific cod (Gadus microcephalus Tilesius, 1810; PFO 56, PN 12, mean length 62 cm), walleye pollock (PFO 44, PN 7, mean length 49 cm) and red Irish lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus (Tilesius, 1811); PFO 11, PN 9) in fall. Species of Cryptacanthidae, Liparidae and Zoarcidae were highly represented and exclusive to spring collections. Predictable seasonal concentrations and movements of mature prey along frontal boundaries of the continental shelf and ice edge may be critical to male Steller sea lion fitness during the non-breeding season.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author