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Mikkelsen L, Kovacs KM, Blanchet MA, Brodin G, Lydersen C. Interannual site fidelity by Svalbard walruses. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15822. [PMID: 38982120 PMCID: PMC11233647 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66370-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The Arctic is experiencing rapid reductions in sea ice, affecting all ice-dependant species. In the present study we examine interannual seasonal movements and habitat use in relation to sea ice coverage for one of the Arctic endemic marine mammals. We tagged 40 male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) in the Svalbard Archipelago with custom-designed tusk-mounted GPS loggers. Twelve of these animals provided tracks that lasted 1-6 years. Eleven of the walruses displayed clear seasonal migratory behaviour between summer foraging areas and winter breeding areas. Individuals showed high inter-individual variation, but clear site fidelity, using the same areas in consecutive years despite variable sea ice conditions. The walruses swam 5225-10,406 km per year and travelled remarkably similar distances between years on an individual basis. The phenology of migration was not impacted by sea ice concentrations or daylight length but was consistent at the individual level, suggesting endogenous drivers. Sea ice concentrations influenced movement behaviour with animals showing more tortuous paths when in areas with heavy sea ice, possibly searching for polynyas where females reside. Ongoing climate change is expected to drastically change walrus habitat, and it remains to be seen if walruses will be able to shift from their fixed seasonal migratory routines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonnie Mikkelsen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marie-Anne Blanchet
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gary Brodin
- Pathtrack Ltd, Unit 1, Chevin Mill, Leeds Road, Otley, LS21 1BT, UK
| | - Christian Lydersen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
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Dania A, Lutier M, Heimböck MP, Heuschele J, Søreide JE, Jackson MC, Dinh KV. Temporal patterns in multiple stressors shape the vulnerability of overwintering Arctic zooplankton. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11673. [PMID: 38952656 PMCID: PMC11215157 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The Arctic polar nights bring extreme environmental conditions characterised by cold and darkness, which challenge the survival of organisms in the Arctic. Additionally, multiple anthropogenic stressors can amplify the pressure on the fragile Arctic ecosystems during this period. Determining how multiple anthropogenic stressors may affect the survival of Arctic life is crucial for ecological risk assessments and management, but this topic is understudied. For the first time, our study investigates the complex interactions of multiple stressors, exploring stressor temporal dynamics and exposure duration on a key Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis during the polar nights. We conducted experiments with pulse (intermittent) and press (continuous) exposure scenarios, involving microplastics, pyrene and warming in a fully factorial design. We observed significant effects on copepod survival, with pronounced impacts during later stressor phases. We also detected two-way interactions between microplastics and pyrene, as well as pyrene and warming, further intensified with the presence of a third stressor. Continuous stressor exposure for 9 days (press-temporal scenario) led to greater reductions in copepod survival compared to the pulse-temporal scenario, characterised by two 3-day stressor exposure phases. Notably, the inclusion of recovery phases, free from stressor exposure, positively influenced copepod survival, highlighting the importance of temporal exposure dynamics. We did not find behaviour to be affected by the different treatments. Our findings underscore the intricate interactions amongst multiple stressors and their temporal patterns in shaping the vulnerability of overwintering Arctic copepods with crucial implications for managing Arctic aquatic ecosystems under the fastest rate of ongoing climate change on earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albini Dania
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Mathieu Lutier
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Martin P. Heimböck
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Institute of Environmental MedicineKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Jan Heuschele
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | | | - Khuong V. Dinh
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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Robeck T, Katsumata E, Arai K, Montano G, Schmitt T, DiRocco S, Steinman KJ. Growth, maturity, reproduction, and life expectancy in ex-situ pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:57. [PMID: 37170158 PMCID: PMC10127427 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00158-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Pacific walruses are found in Arctic regions of the Chukchi and Bering Sea where rapid changes in environmental conditions resulting in loss of sea ice are occurring. Therefore, accurate life history data are crucial for species management plans and longitudinal data collected over the lives of individual walruses housed in zoos and aquaria provide otherwise difficult to obtain biological information.
Results
While similar at birth, Gompertz regression curves indicated that males grew faster than females (p < 0.0001) in weight (99 kg vs 57.6 kg/y) and length (26.9 cm vs 26.3 cm/y) with physical differences being detected by age 3 for weight and age 7 for length. Males reached adult weight at 13.5 ± 3.3 y and females by age 12.3 ± 2.3 y. The mean age at first ovulation and at first conception occurred at 8.8 y and 9.6 y. Greater than 75% of all conceptions and calving occurred between February and March and from May to June, respectively. Mean gestation lasted 423 d and false pregnancies lasted at least 169 d with a decrease (p < 0.05) in serum progesterone concentration between false pregnancy and pregnancy occurring within 6 months after ovulation. Based on these results, we estimated embryonic diapause to last from 120 to 139 days, and fetal growth last ~ 284 days. All males older than 8 y had an increase in serum testosterone and body weight that was highest in February and lowest in July. Overall, no differences were observed between male and female survival, with a mean (± SEM) life expectancy of 19.5 ± 1.5 y, respectively. Currently, the oldest male and female captive walruses are 40 and 43 y, respectively.
Conclusions
Data provided herein include details of life history characteristics of zoo and aquaria housed walruses that are useful for wild population recovery models. In particular, results on survivorship and the identification of the most vulnerable period for calf survival can help with model development and suggests that for recovery to occur birthing locations for this species must be protected.
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Toxic and essential trace element concentrations in Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) skeletal muscle varies by location and reproductive status. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03069-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Couch C, Sanders J, Sweitzer D, Deignan K, Cohen L, Broughton H, Steingass S, Beechler B. The relationship between dietary trophic level, parasites and the microbiome of Pacific walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus divergens). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220079. [PMID: 35382593 PMCID: PMC8984803 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Arctic species are likely to experience rapid shifts in prey availability under climate change, which may alter their exposure to microbes and parasites. Here, we describe fecal bacterial and macroparasite communities and assess correlations with diet trophic level in Pacific walruses harvested during subsistence hunts by members of the Native Villages of Gambell and Savoonga on St Lawrence Island, Alaska. Fecal bacterial communities were dominated by relatively few taxa, mostly belonging to phyla Fusobacteriota and Firmicutes. Members of parasite-associated phyla Nematoda, Acanthocephala and Platyhelminthes were prevalent in our study population. We hypothesized that high versus low prey trophic level (e.g. fish versus bivalves) would result in different gut bacterial and macroparasite communities. We found that bacterial community structure correlated to diet, with nine clades enriched in walruses consuming higher-trophic-level prey. While no parasite compositional differences were found at the phylum level, the cestode genus Diphyllobothrium was more prevalent and abundant in walruses consuming higher-trophic-level prey, probably because fish are the intermediate hosts for this genus. This study suggests that diet is important for structuring both parasite and microbial communities of this culturally and ecologically important species, with potential implications for population health under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Couch
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Justin Sanders
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Danielle Sweitzer
- Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kristen Deignan
- Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Lesley Cohen
- Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Heather Broughton
- Department of Biology, Oregon State University-Cascades, Bend, OR, USA
| | - Sheanna Steingass
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Brianna Beechler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Borque-Espinosa A, Rode KD, Ferrero-Fernández D, Forte A, Capaccioni-Azzati R, Fahlman A. Subsurface swimming and stationary diving are metabolically cheap in adult Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:273381. [PMID: 34746957 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Walruses rely on sea-ice to efficiently forage and rest between diving bouts while maintaining proximity to prime foraging habitat. Recent declines in summer sea ice have resulted in walruses hauling out on land where they have to travel farther to access productive benthic habitat while potentially increasing energetic costs. Despite the need to better understand the impact of sea ice loss on energy expenditure, knowledge about metabolic demands of specific behaviours in walruses is scarce. In the present study, 3 adult female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) participated in flow-through respirometry trials to measure metabolic rates while floating inactive at the water surface during a minimum of 5 min, during a 180-second stationary dive, and while swimming horizontally underwater for ∼90 m. Metabolic rates during stationary dives (3.82±0.56 l O2 min-1) were lower than those measured at the water surface (4.64±1.04 l O2 min-1), which did not differ from rates measured during subsurface swimming (4.91±0.77 l O2 min-1). Thus, neither stationary diving nor subsurface swimming resulted in metabolic rates above those exhibited by walruses at the water surface. These results suggest that walruses minimize their energetic investment during underwater behaviours as reported for other marine mammals. Although environmental factors experienced by free-ranging walruses (e.g., winds or currents) likely affect metabolic rates, our results provide important information for understanding how behavioural changes affect energetic costs and can be used to improve bioenergetics models aimed at predicting the metabolic consequences of climate change on walruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Borque-Espinosa
- Universitat de València, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain.,Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Gran Vía Marqués del Turia 19, 46005 Valencia, Spain
| | - Karyn D Rode
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, , 4210 University Dr, Anchorage, 99508 AK, USA
| | | | - Anabel Forte
- Universitat de València, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Andreas Fahlman
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Gran Vía Marqués del Turia 19, 46005 Valencia, Spain.,Global Diving Research, Inc. Ottawa, K2J 5E8 ON, Canada
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Evaluation of Satellite Imagery for Monitoring Pacific Walruses at a Large Coastal Haulout. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13214266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are using coastal haulouts in the Chukchi Sea more often and in larger numbers to rest between foraging bouts in late summer and autumn in recent years, because climate warming has reduced availability of sea ice that historically had provided resting platforms near their preferred benthic feeding grounds. With greater numbers of walruses hauling out in large aggregations, new opportunities are presented for monitoring the population. Here we evaluate different types of satellite imagery for detecting and delineating the peripheries of walrus aggregations at a commonly used haulout near Point Lay, Alaska, in 2018–2020. We evaluated optical and radar imagery ranging in pixel resolutions from 40 m to ~1 m: specifically, optical imagery from Landsat, Sentinel-2, Planet Labs, and DigitalGlobe, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery from Sentinel-1 and TerraSAR-X. Three observers independently examined satellite images to detect walrus aggregations and digitized their peripheries using visual interpretation. We compared interpretations between observers and to high-resolution (~2 cm) ortho-corrected imagery collected by a small unoccupied aerial system (UAS). Roughly two-thirds of the time, clouds precluded clear optical views of the study area from satellite. SAR was unaffected by clouds (and darkness) and provided unambiguous signatures of walrus aggregations at the Point Lay haulout. Among imagery types with 4–10 m resolution, observers unanimously agreed on all detections of walruses, and attained an average 65% overlap (sd 12.0, n 100) in their delineations of aggregation boundaries. For imagery with ~1 m resolution, overlap agreement was higher (mean 85%, sd 3.0, n 11). We found that optical satellite sensors with moderate resolution and high revisitation rates, such as PlanetScope and Sentinel-2, demonstrated robust and repeatable qualities for monitoring walrus haulouts, but temporal gaps between observations due to clouds were common. SAR imagery also demonstrated robust capabilities for monitoring the Point Lay haulout, but more research is needed to evaluate SAR at haulouts with more complex local terrain and beach substrates.
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Andersson TR, Hosking JS, Pérez-Ortiz M, Paige B, Elliott A, Russell C, Law S, Jones DC, Wilkinson J, Phillips T, Byrne J, Tietsche S, Sarojini BB, Blanchard-Wrigglesworth E, Aksenov Y, Downie R, Shuckburgh E. Seasonal Arctic sea ice forecasting with probabilistic deep learning. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5124. [PMID: 34446701 PMCID: PMC8390499 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25257-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic warming has led to an unprecedented year-round reduction in Arctic sea ice extent. This has far-reaching consequences for indigenous and local communities, polar ecosystems, and global climate, motivating the need for accurate seasonal sea ice forecasts. While physics-based dynamical models can successfully forecast sea ice concentration several weeks ahead, they struggle to outperform simple statistical benchmarks at longer lead times. We present a probabilistic, deep learning sea ice forecasting system, IceNet. The system has been trained on climate simulations and observational data to forecast the next 6 months of monthly-averaged sea ice concentration maps. We show that IceNet advances the range of accurate sea ice forecasts, outperforming a state-of-the-art dynamical model in seasonal forecasts of summer sea ice, particularly for extreme sea ice events. This step-change in sea ice forecasting ability brings us closer to conservation tools that mitigate risks associated with rapid sea ice loss.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Scott Hosking
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, UKRI, Cambridge, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - María Pérez-Ortiz
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Brooks Paige
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Elliott
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Stephen Law
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
- Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - James Byrne
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, UKRI, Cambridge, UK
| | - Steffen Tietsche
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily Shuckburgh
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, UKRI, Cambridge, UK
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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9
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Charapata P, Horstmann L, Misarti N. Steroid hormones in Pacific walrus bones collected over three millennia indicate physiological responses to changes in estimated population size and the environment. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coaa135. [PMID: 33537147 PMCID: PMC7836870 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is an iconic Arctic marine mammal and an important resource to many Alaska Natives. A decrease in sea ice habitat and unknown population numbers has led to concern of the long-term future health of the walrus population. There is currently no clear understanding of how walrus physiology might be affected by a changing Arctic ecosystem. In this study, steroid hormone concentrations (progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and estradiol) were analysed in walrus bones collected during archaeological [3585-200 calendar years before present (BP)], historical [1880-2006 common era (CE)] and modern (2014-2016 CE) time periods, representing ~ 3651 years, to track changes in reproductive activity and cortisol concentrations (biomarker of stress) over time. Our results show that modern walrus samples have similar cortisol concentrations (median = 43.97 ± standard deviation 904.38 ng/g lipid) to archaeological walruses (38.94 ± 296.17 ng/g lipid, P = 0.75). Cortisol concentrations were weakly correlated with a 15-year average September Chukchi Sea ice cover (P = 0.002, 0.02, r 2 = 0.09, 0.04, for females and males, respectively), indicating a possible physiological resiliency to sea ice recession in the Arctic. All steroid hormones had significant negative correlations with mean walrus population estimates from 1960 to 2016 (P < 0.001). Progesterone in females and testosterone in males exhibited significant correlations with average September Chukchi Sea ice cover for years 1880-2016 (P < 0.001 for both, r2 = 0.34, 0.22, respectively). Modern walruses had significantly lower (P = < 0.001) reproductive hormone concentrations compared with historic walruses during times of rapid population increase, indicative of a population possibly at carrying capacity. This is the first study to apply bone as a tool to monitor long-term changes in hormones that may be associated with changes in walrus population size and sea ice cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Charapata
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, One Bear Place, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Lara Horstmann
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Nicole Misarti
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 755910, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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11
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Durner GM, Douglas DC, Albeke SE, Whiteman JP, Amstrup SC, Richardson E, Wilson RR, Ben-David M. Increased Arctic sea ice drift alters adult female polar bear movements and energetics. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:3460-3473. [PMID: 28586523 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent reductions in thickness and extent have increased drift rates of Arctic sea ice. Increased ice drift could significantly affect the movements and the energy balance of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) which forage, nearly exclusively, on this substrate. We used radio-tracking and ice drift data to quantify the influence of increased drift on bear movements, and we modeled the consequences for energy demands of adult females in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas during two periods with different sea ice characteristics. Westward and northward drift of the sea ice used by polar bears in both regions increased between 1987-1998 and 1999-2013. To remain within their home ranges, polar bears responded to the higher westward ice drift with greater eastward movements, while their movements north in the spring and south in fall were frequently aided by ice motion. To compensate for more rapid westward ice drift in recent years, polar bears covered greater daily distances either by increasing their time spent active (7.6%-9.6%) or by increasing their travel speed (8.5%-8.9%). This increased their calculated annual energy expenditure by 1.8%-3.6% (depending on region and reproductive status), a cost that could be met by capturing an additional 1-3 seals/year. Polar bears selected similar habitats in both periods, indicating that faster drift did not alter habitat preferences. Compounding reduced foraging opportunities that result from habitat loss; changes in ice drift, and associated activity increases, likely exacerbate the physiological stress experienced by polar bears in a warming Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Durner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - David C Douglas
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Juneau, AK, USA
| | - Shannon E Albeke
- Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - John P Whiteman
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | | | - Evan Richardson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ryan R Wilson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Merav Ben-David
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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Demography and pathology of a pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) mass-mortality event at Icy Cape, Alaska, September 2009. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-2023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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13
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Van Hemert C, Flint PL, Udevitz MS, Koch JC, Atwood TC, Oakley KL, Pearce JM. Forecasting Wildlife Response to Rapid Warming in the Alaskan Arctic. Bioscience 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biv069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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14
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Laidre KL, Stern H, Kovacs KM, Lowry L, Moore SE, Regehr EV, Ferguson SH, Wiig Ø, Boveng P, Angliss RP, Born EW, Litovka D, Quakenbush L, Lydersen C, Vongraven D, Ugarte F. Arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:724-37. [PMID: 25783745 PMCID: PMC5008214 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Arctic marine mammals (AMMs) are icons of climate change, largely because of their close association with sea ice. However, neither a circumpolar assessment of AMM status nor a standardized metric of sea ice habitat change is available. We summarized available data on abundance and trend for each AMM species and recognized subpopulation. We also examined species diversity, the extent of human use, and temporal trends in sea ice habitat for 12 regions of the Arctic by calculating the dates of spring sea ice retreat and fall sea ice advance from satellite data (1979-2013). Estimates of AMM abundance varied greatly in quality, and few studies were long enough for trend analysis. Of the AMM subpopulations, 78% (61 of 78) are legally harvested for subsistence purposes. Changes in sea ice phenology have been profound. In all regions except the Bering Sea, the duration of the summer (i.e., reduced ice) period increased by 5-10 weeks and by >20 weeks in the Barents Sea between 1979 and 2013. In light of generally poor data, the importance of human use, and forecasted environmental changes in the 21st century, we recommend the following for effective AMM conservation: maintain and improve comanagement by local, federal, and international partners; recognize spatial and temporal variability in AMM subpopulation response to climate change; implement monitoring programs with clear goals; mitigate cumulative impacts of increased human activity; and recognize the limits of current protected species legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L Laidre
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, 1013 NE 40th Street, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, U.S.A
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Harry Stern
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, 1013 NE 40th Street, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, U.S.A
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lloyd Lowry
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, 73-4388, Paiaha Street, Kailua Kona, HI 96740, U.S.A
| | - Sue E Moore
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98115, U.S.A
| | - Eric V Regehr
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK, 99503, U.S.A
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Øystein Wiig
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, N-0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter Boveng
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600, Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, U.S.A
| | - Robyn P Angliss
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600, Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, U.S.A
| | - Erik W Born
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Dennis Litovka
- ChukotTINRO, P.O. Box 29, Str. Otke, 56, Anadyr, Chukotka, 689000, Russia
| | - Lori Quakenbush
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, U.S.A
| | | | - Dag Vongraven
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Fernando Ugarte
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
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