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Togunov RR, Derocher AE, Lunn NJ, Auger-Méthé M. Drivers of polar bear behavior and the possible effects of prey availability on foraging strategy. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:50. [PMID: 36384775 PMCID: PMC9670556 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Change in behavior is one of the earliest responses to variation in habitat suitability. It is therefore important to understand the conditions that promote different behaviors, particularly in areas undergoing environmental change. Animal movement is tightly linked to behavior and remote tracking can be used to study ethology when direct observation is not possible. METHODS We used movement data from 14 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Hudson Bay, Canada, during the foraging season (January-June), when bears inhabit the sea ice. We developed an error-tolerant method to correct for sea ice drift in tracking data. Next, we used hidden Markov models with movement and orientation relative to wind to study three behaviors (stationary, area-restricted search, and olfactory search) and examine effects of 11 covariates on behavior. RESULTS Polar bears spent approximately 47% of their time in the stationary drift state, 29% in olfactory search, and 24% in area-restricted search. High energy behaviors occurred later in the day (around 20:00) compared to other populations. Second, olfactory search increased as the season progressed, which may reflect a shift in foraging strategy from still-hunting to active search linked to a shift in seal availability (i.e., increase in haul-outs from winter to the spring pupping and molting seasons). Last, we found spatial patterns of distribution linked to season, ice concentration, and bear age that may be tied to habitat quality and competitive exclusion. CONCLUSIONS Our observations were generally consistent with predictions of the marginal value theorem, and differences between our findings and other populations could be explained by regional or temporal variation in resource availability. Our novel movement analyses and finding can help identify periods, regions, and conditions of critical habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron R. Togunov
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Andrew E. Derocher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Nicholas J. Lunn
- Wildlife Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Edmonton, T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4 Canada
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2
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Pathways between Climate, Fish, Fisheries, and Management: A Conceptual Integrated Ecosystem Management Approach. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10030338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The abundance and distribution of marine fishes is influenced by environmental conditions, predator–prey relationships, multispecies interactions, and direct human impacts, such as fishing. The adaptive response of the system depends on its structure and the pathways that link environmental factors to the taxon in question. The “Star Diagram” is a socio-ecological model of marine ecosystems that depicts the general pathways between climate, fish, and fisheries, and their intersection with climate policy and resource management. We illustrate its use by identifying the key factors, pathways and drivers that influence walleye pollock, crab, and sockeye salmon, under a warming scenario on the eastern Bering Sea shelf. This approach predicts that all three species will see reduced populations under a long-term warming scenario. Going forward, the challenge to managers is to balance the magnitude of the effect of harvest and the adaptability of their management system, with the scale and degree of resilience and the behavioral, physiological, or evolutionary adaptation of the ecosystem and its constituents. The Star Diagram provides a novel conceptual construct that managers can use to visualize and integrate the various aspects of the system into a holistic, socio-ecological management framework.
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3
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Ogloff WR, Anderson RA, Yurkowski DJ, Debets CD, Anderson WG, Ferguson SH. OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022; 103:1208-1220. [PMID: 36262800 PMCID: PMC9562108 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David J Yurkowski
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Cassandra D Debets
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - W Gary Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Circle, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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4
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Lindsay JM, Laidre KL, Conn PB, Moreland EE, Boveng PL. Modeling ringed seal Pusa hispida habitat and lair emergence timing in the eastern Bering and Chukchi Seas. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ringed seals Pusa hispida are reliant on snow and sea ice for denning, and a better understanding of ringed seal habitat selection and timing of emergence from snow dens (also called lairs) is needed to quantify and predict effects of climate change in the Arctic. We used generalized additive models to assess relationships between ringed seal counts, from spring aerial surveys in the Bering Sea (2012 and 2013) and Chukchi Sea (2016), and spatiotemporal covariates including survey date, remotely sensed snow and sea-ice values, and short-term weather data. We produced separate models for total ringed seal counts and for pup counts within each region. Our models showed that in both areas, total ringed seal counts increased over the course of the spring, especially after 15 May, indicating emergence from lairs and/or the onset of basking behavior. For the more northerly Chukchi Sea, we found a substantial unimodal effect of snow melt progression and a positive effect of snow depth on total ringed seal counts. In contrast, Bering Sea total ringed seal counts and pup counts in both regions were affected much more strongly by date than by habitat variables. Overall, our findings demonstrate that snow depth and melt play an important role in the timing of ringed seal den emergence, particularly in the Chukchi Sea, and suggest that ringed seal denning may be affected by continued shifts in melt and snow depth associated with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- JM Lindsay
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - KL Laidre
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - PB Conn
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - EE Moreland
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - PL Boveng
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
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5
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Lang AR, Boveng P, Quakenbush L, Robertson K, Lauf M, Rode KD, Ziel H, Taylor BL. Re-examination of population structure in Arctic ringed seals using DArTseq genotyping. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Arctic ringed seals Phoca hispida hispida are currently abundant and broadly distributed, their numbers are projected to decline substantially by the year 2100 due to climate warming. While understanding population structure could provide insight into the impact of environmental changes on this subspecies, detecting demographically important levels of exchange can be difficult in taxa with high abundance. We used a next-generation sequencing approach (DArTseq) to genotype ~5700 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 79 seals from 4 Pacific Arctic regions. Comparison of the 2 most geographically separated strata (eastern Bering vs. northeastern Chukchi-Beaufort Seas) revealed a statistically significant level of genetic differentiation (FST = 0.001, p = 0.005) that, while small, was 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than expected based on divergence estimated for similarly sized populations connected by low (1% yr-1) dispersal. A relatively high proportion (72 to 88%) of individuals within these strata could be genetically assigned to their stratum of origin. These results indicate that demographically important structure may be present among Arctic ringed seals breeding in different areas, increasing the risk that declines in the number of seals breeding in areas most negatively affected by environmental warming could occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- AR Lang
- Ocean Associates, Inc., Arlington, VA 22207, USA, under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - P Boveng
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - L Quakenbush
- Arctic Marine Mammal Program, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
| | - K Robertson
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - M Lauf
- Ocean Associates, Inc., Arlington, VA 22207, USA, under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - KD Rode
- Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - H Ziel
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - BL Taylor
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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6
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Post E, Alley RB, Christensen TR, Macias-Fauria M, Forbes BC, Gooseff MN, Iler A, Kerby JT, Laidre KL, Mann ME, Olofsson J, Stroeve JC, Ulmer F, Virginia RA, Wang M. The polar regions in a 2°C warmer world. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw9883. [PMID: 31840060 PMCID: PMC6892626 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw9883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the Arctic has warmed by 0.75°C, far outpacing the global average, while Antarctic temperatures have remained comparatively stable. As Earth approaches 2°C warming, the Arctic and Antarctic may reach 4°C and 2°C mean annual warming, and 7°C and 3°C winter warming, respectively. Expected consequences of increased Arctic warming include ongoing loss of land and sea ice, threats to wildlife and traditional human livelihoods, increased methane emissions, and extreme weather at lower latitudes. With low biodiversity, Antarctic ecosystems may be vulnerable to state shifts and species invasions. Land ice loss in both regions will contribute substantially to global sea level rise, with up to 3 m rise possible if certain thresholds are crossed. Mitigation efforts can slow or reduce warming, but without them northern high latitude warming may accelerate in the next two to four decades. International cooperation will be crucial to foreseeing and adapting to expected changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Post
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Richard B. Alley
- Department of Geosciences, and Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Torben R. Christensen
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marc Macias-Fauria
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Bruce C. Forbes
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Michael N. Gooseff
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Amy Iler
- Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Kerby
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Neukom Institute for Computational Science, Institute of Arctic Studies, and Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Kristin L. Laidre
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Michael E. Mann
- Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science and Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Julienne C. Stroeve
- University College London, Bloomsbury, London, UK
- National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Fran Ulmer
- Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, 420 L Street, Suite 315 Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
- Chair, U.S. Artic Research Commission, 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 510, Arlington, VA 22203, USA
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ross A. Virginia
- Institute of Arctic Studies, and Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Muyin Wang
- Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
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7
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Reimer JR, Caswell H, Derocher AE, Lewis MA. Ringed seal demography in a changing climate. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01855. [PMID: 30672632 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is affecting species' distributions and abundances worldwide. Baseline population estimates, against which future observations may be compared, are necessary if we are to detect ecological change. Arctic sea ice ecosystems are changing rapidly and we lack baseline population estimates for many ice-associated species. Provided we can detect them, changes in Arctic marine ecosystems may be signaled by changes in indicator species such as ringed seals (Pusa hispida). Ringed seal monitoring has provided estimates of survival and fertility rates, but these have not been used for population-level inference. Using matrix population models, we synthesized existing demographic parameters to obtain estimates of historical ringed seal population growth and structure in Amundsen Gulf and Prince Albert Sound, Canada. We then formalized existing hypotheses about the effects of emerging environmental stressors (i.e., earlier spring ice breakup and reduced snow depth) on ringed seal pup survival. Coupling the demographic model to ice and snow forecasts available from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project resulted in projections of ringed seal population size and structure up to the year 2100. These projections showed median declines in population size ranging from 50% to 99%. Corresponding to these projected declines were substantial changes in population structure, with increasing proportions of ringed seal pups and adults and declining proportions of juveniles. We explored if currently collected, harvest-based data could be used to detect the projected changes in population stage structure. Our model suggests that at a present sample size of 100 seals per year, the projected changes in stage structure would only be reliably detected by mid-century, even for the most extreme climate models. This modeling process revealed inconsistencies in existing estimates of ringed seal demographic rates. Mathematical population models such as these can contribute both to understanding past population trends as well as predicting future ones, both of which are necessary if we are to detect and interpret future observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody R Reimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta , T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G1, Canada
| | - Hal Caswell
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1090, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew E Derocher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta , T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Mark A Lewis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta , T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G1, Canada
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8
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Ferguson SH, Zhu X, Young BG, Yurkowski DJ, Thiemann GW, Fisk AT, Muir DC. Geographic variation in ringed seal (Pusa hispida) growth rate and body size. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We summarize geographical patterns in ringed seal (Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775)) body length and girth growth using 3012 samples collected by Inuit hunters in the eastern Canadian Arctic from 1990 to 2016. Spatial structure was detected using cluster analysis of environmental variables separating a northern region in the eastern Canadian High Arctic and a southern region in Hudson Bay. The north was characterized by more fast ice, multiyear ice, greater snow depth, colder temperatures, and greater sea-ice concentration in the spring seal breeding season. Hierarchical Bayesian models described length and axillary girth growth of northern seals as slower than in the south, reaching asymptotic size 5–7 years later. Northern females were larger than males (asymptotic length of 149 versus 140 cm, respectively) and both were larger than southern seals (males and females 126 cm). We conclude that environmental variation was best represented by regions rather than latitude, regional body size differences were driven by differential growth rates, and northern ringed seals may be characterized by reverse sexual size dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H. Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xinhua Zhu
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Brent G. Young
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - David J. Yurkowski
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Gregory W. Thiemann
- Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Aaron T. Fisk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Derek C.G. Muir
- Environment Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
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9
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Hamilton CD, Kovacs KM, Ims RA, Lydersen C. Haul-out behaviour of Arctic ringed seals (Pusa hispida): inter-annual patterns and impacts of current environmental change. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2260-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Florko KRN, Bernhardt W, Breiter CJC, Ferguson SH, Hainstock M, Young BG, Petersen SD. Decreasing sea ice conditions in western Hudson Bay and an increase in abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Churchill River. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2277-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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11
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Ferguson SH, Young BG, Yurkowski DJ, Anderson R, Willing C, Nielsen O. Demographic, ecological, and physiological responses of ringed seals to an abrupt decline in sea ice availability. PeerJ 2017; 5:e2957. [PMID: 28168119 PMCID: PMC5292026 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess whether demographic declines of Arctic species at the southern limit of their range will be gradual or punctuated, we compared large-scale environmental patterns including sea ice dynamics to ringed seal (Pusa hispida) reproduction, body condition, recruitment, and stress in Hudson Bay from 2003 to 2013. Aerial surveys suggested a gradual decline in seal density from 1995 to 2013, with the lowest density occurring in 2013. Body condition decreased and stress (cortisol) increased over time in relation to longer open water periods. The 2010 open water period in Hudson Bay coincided with extremes in large-scale atmospheric patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation, El Nino-Southern Oscillation) resulting in the earliest spring breakup and the latest ice formation on record. The warming event was coincident with high stress level, low ovulation rate, low pregnancy rate, few pups in the Inuit harvest, and observations of sick seals. Results provide evidence of changes in the condition of Arctic marine mammals in relation to climate mediated sea ice dynamics. We conclude that although negative demographic responses of Hudson Bay seals are occurring gradually with diminishing sea ice, a recent episodic environmental event played a significant role in a punctuated population decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H. Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Brent G. Young
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - David J. Yurkowski
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Randi Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Cornelia Willing
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ole Nielsen
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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12
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Atwood TC, Marcot BG, Douglas DC, Amstrup SC, Rode KD, Durner GM, Bromaghin JF. Forecasting the relative influence of environmental and anthropogenic stressors on polar bears. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Todd C. Atwood
- Alaska Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - Bruce G. Marcot
- Pacific Northwest Research StationU.S.D.A. Forest Service Portland Oregon 97208 USA
| | - David C. Douglas
- Alaska Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey Juneau Alaska 99801 USA
| | | | - Karyn D. Rode
- Alaska Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - George M. Durner
- Alaska Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
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13
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Yurkowski DJ, Ferguson SH, Semeniuk CAD, Brown TM, Muir DCG, Fisk AT. Spatial and temporal variation of an ice-adapted predator's feeding ecology in a changing Arctic marine ecosystem. Oecologia 2015. [PMID: 26210748 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Spatial and temporal variation can confound interpretations of relationships within and between species in terms of diet composition, niche size, and trophic position (TP). The cause of dietary variation within species is commonly an ontogenetic niche shift, which is a key dynamic influencing community structure. We quantified spatial and temporal variations in ringed seal (Pusa hispida) diet, niche size, and TP during ontogeny across the Arctic-a rapidly changing ecosystem. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was performed on 558 liver and 630 muscle samples from ringed seals and on likely prey species from five locations ranging from the High to the Low Arctic. A modest ontogenetic diet shift occurred, with adult ringed seals consuming more forage fish (approximately 80 versus 60 %) and having a higher TP than subadults, which generally decreased with latitude. However, the degree of shift varied spatially, with adults in the High Arctic presenting a more restricted niche size and consuming more Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) than subadults (87 versus 44 %) and adults at the lowest latitude (29 %). The TPs of adult and subadult ringed seals generally decreased with latitude (4.7-3.3), which was mainly driven by greater complexity in trophic structure within the zooplankton communities. Adult isotopic niche size increased over time, likely due to the recent circumpolar increases in subarctic forage fish distribution and abundance. Given the spatial and temporal variability in ringed seal foraging ecology, ringed seals exhibit dietary plasticity as a species, suggesting adaptability in terms of their diet to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Yurkowski
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada.
| | - Christina A D Semeniuk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Tanya M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada.
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Research Division, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada.
| | - Aaron T Fisk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada.
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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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