Male northern elephant seals migrate to feeding grounds along which underwater margin?

Male northern elephant seals migrate to feeding grounds along the continental shelf. This relatively shallow underwater margin stretches off the Pacific coast from Washington toward the western Aleutian Islands, where the males forage mainly on or near the seafloor.

The continental shelf is the submerged edge of a continent before the seabed drops more steeply toward the deep ocean. Its benthic habitats can support abundant prey, including fish and other bottom-associated organisms. Male northern elephant seals commonly dive straight down and spend time near the bottom while feeding.

This migration reflects one of the species’ strongest biological differences between the sexes. Females generally head north or west into the open northeastern Pacific and pursue pelagic prey in the water column. They often dive deeper and follow more wandering routes, whereas males use a more shelf-associated, benthic strategy.

The distinction is not merely geographic. Males are much larger and need energy-rich feeding opportunities that can help them compete during the breeding season. Northern elephant seals return to land mainly to breed, give birth, and molt, spending most of their lives at sea.