17The Chukchi and Beaufort seas are undergoing rapid climate change and increased human 18 activity. Conservation efforts for upper trophic level predators such as seabirds and marine 19 mammals require information on species' distributions and identification of important marine 20 areas. Here we describe broad-scale distributions of seabirds and marine mammals. We 21 examined spatial patterns of relative abundance of seabirds and marine mammals in the eastern 22 Chukchi and western Beaufort seas during summer (. We summarized 49 206 km of shipboard surveys for seabirds 24 and 183 157 km of aerial surveys for marine mammals into a grid of 40-km X 40-km cells. We 25 used Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis to test for cells with higher relative abundance than 26 expected when compared to all cells within the study area. We identified cells representing 27 Kuletz et al_Seabird and Marine Mammal Hotspots in Pacific Arctic_2.27.15 2 single-species and taxonomic group hotspots, cells representing hotspots for multiple species, 28 and cells representing hotspots for both seabirds and marine mammals. The locations of hotspots 29 varied among species but often were located near underwater canyons or over continental shelf 30 features and slopes. Hotspots for seabirds, walrus, and gray whales occurred primarily in the 31 Chukchi Sea. Hotspots for bowhead whales and other pinnipeds (i.e., seals) occurred near 32 Barrow Canyon and along the Beaufort Sea shelf and slope. Hotspots for belugas occurred in 33 both the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. There were three hotspots shared by both seabirds and 34 marine mammals in summer: off Wainwright in the eastern Chukchi Sea, south of Hanna Shoal, 35 and at the mouth of Barrow Canyon. In fall, the only identified shared hotspot occurred at the 36 mouth of Barrow Canyon. Shared hotspots are characterized by strong fronts caused by 37 upwelling and currents, and these areas can have high densities of euphausiids in summer and 38 fall. Due to the high relative abundance of animals and diversity of taxa, these sites are clearly 39 important areas of congregation for seabirds and marine mammals that should be prioritized in 40 the development of management and conservation plans.41 42

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