Model installing and you may diagnostics

We fit our Bayesian state-space model, consisting of both movement and observation process components, using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. We assigned uninformative priors whenever there were no a priori expectations about the relationships of the model parameters and the movement behavior states (see Appendix S1). _n,t) within each iteration of the MCMC algorithm (see Appendix S2). We initialized six chains from random starting values drawn from the prior distributions. After initial pilot tuning and burn-in, we ran the chains until the univariate Gelman–Rubin potential scale reduction factor (PSRF) for monitored parameters was <1.2 and effective sample sizes exceeded 4000. This required about 6 million iterations per chain, where 1 million iterations for each parallel chain required about 100 h using six cores of a 3.7-GHz processor. Data and code can be found in Data S1.

Performance

Predicated on rear settings getting condition tasks, we discovered such bearded seals invested 70% of its implementation episodes throughout the benthic foraging condition (B). It hauled out on frost (county I) and you may rested within ocean (condition S) from inside the about equal proportions, however, there is certainly a clear seasonal parts inside interest costs certainly one of the fresh new hauled on ice (I), benthic foraging (B), and transportation (T) states you to coincided on june sanctuary and you will wintertime progress out-of ocean ice throughout the Snowy (Dining table 2). All the seals shown rigorous benthic foraging over the continental shelves from new Chukchi otherwise Beaufort oceans just like the water frost receded northward when you look at the the summertime. We located little or no evidence of such freeze-relevant seals pulling out on belongings, though nearby the shore during the mainly freeze-free months during summer. Surprisingly, a grownup male temporarily went northern of one’s Beaufort seaside shelf within the later and you will is actually forecast to have hauled out on the fresh falling-out ocean frost boundary between bouts away from middle-liquids foraging on the greater waters of one’s Canada Basin (Fig. 2). We provide a detailed cartoon off predict actions and you can condition projects for all www.datingranking.net/local-hookup/victoria/ seals prior to bathymetry and sea freeze defense into the Appendix S3.

• There are seasonal differences in passion finances ranging from “summer” (of marking when you look at the later June and you can early July to help you 30 September), “autumn” (step 1 October so you’re able to 30 December), and “winter” (1 January until tag loss between March and you can April) that coincided to your south get better out-of winter ocean freeze in the latest Arctic. Craft funds descriptions was basically determined in line with the posterior mode regarding time spent into the for each condition which have all the way down (LCI) and top (UCI) reliable times centered on 95% highest posterior occurrence. Private secure pastime budgets are part of Appendix S4.

As expected, the resting states (I, S, and L) exhibited shorter step lengths, no directional persistence, and lower proportions of each time step diving >4 m below the surface based on state-specific parameter estimates (Fig. 3; see Appendix S4 for posterior sumeters). Both the mid-water foraging (M) and transit (T) states exhibited longer step lengths, lower proportions of dry time, and higher proportions of diving >4 m below the surface. Only the transit state exhibited strong directional persistence, but state M exhibited moderate directional persistence for some individuals (Fig. 3). The benthic foraging (B) state generally exhibited moderate step lengths, no directional persistence, lower proportions of dry time, higher proportions of diving >4 m below the surface, and considerably higher benthic dive counts (posterior median for ?_B = 41.4; 95% highest posterior density interval: 41.2–41.7). The resting (?_I = ?_S = ?_L = 9.7; 95% HPDI: 9.4–10.0) and transit (?_T = 15.0; 95% HPDI: 14.5–15.5) states exhibited moderate benthic dive counts, while the mid-water foraging state generally had the lowest benthic dive counts (?_M = 1.5; 95% HPDI: 1.3–1.7; Fig. 3). The moderate benthic dive counts for the resting and transit states could be attributable to mid-interval state switches, but there certainly could have been opportunistic benthic foraging during transit. There also could have been high-speed, directionally persistent benthic dives while transiting in relatively shallow shelf waters.