Fall Movements of Belugas (&lt;i&gt;Delphinapterus leucas&lt;/i&gt;) with Satellite-linked Transmitters in Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound, and Northern Baffin Bay

Richard, Pierre; Heide‐Jørgensen, M. P.; Aubin, David St.

doi:10.14430/arctic1040

Cited by 46 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…} Data sources: belugas (Richard et al 1998a, Suydam et al 2001, Hobbs et al 2005, narwhals , HeideJørgensen et al 2003a, bowheads Reeves 1993, Heide-Jørgensen et al 2006), ringed seals (Smith 1987, HeideJørgensen et al 1992a, Teilman et al 1999, Gjertz et al 2000a, Born et al 2004, Lydersen et al 2004L. A. Harwood and T. G. Smith, unpublished data), bearded seals (Gjertz et al 2000b, Krafft et al 2000, walrus (Fay 1982, Gjertz et al 1993, Gjertz and Wiig 1994, Born 2005, polar bears (Garner et al 1990, Ramsay and Stirling 1990, Wiig 1995, Born et al 1997b, Ferguson et al 1999, Amstrup et al 2000, Mauritzen et al 2001, Wiig et al 2003, subarctic pinnipeds (Kelly 1988, Sergeant 1991, Folkow et al 1996J.…”

Section: Species Rankings and Index Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Satellite telemetry, genetic studies, and organochlorine analyses show belugas have strong matrilineally driven seasonal site fidelity to fjords and estuaries for summering and separate wintering grounds and are distributed in discrete populations around the Arctic (O'Corry-Crowe et al 1997, de March et al 2002, Innes et al 2002, Palsbøll et al 2002. Belugas generally prefer to overwinter in shallow or coastal areas, usually with light or highly moveable ice cover (Barber et al 2001, Suydam et al 2001, Heide-Jørgensen et al 2003c; Table 1) and may occur as fully Arctic populations (Richard et al 1998a, Suydam et al 2001 or subarctic populations (Hobbs et al 2005).…”

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Large numbers of migratory belugas occur along the northwest and northern part of the Alaskan coast, in the Canadian High Arctic, and western Hudson Bay. At certain times of the year, those whales migrate thousands of kilometers, in some cases as far as 808 N into dense pack ice (Suydam et al 2001) or thousands of kilometers into the North Water polynya or to the pack ice off West Greenland (Richard et al 1998a, b, 2001, HeideJørgensen et al 2003c. Nonmigratory belugas that generally make seasonal shifts in distribution of ,100 km are found in Cook Inlet, Cumberland Sound, Svalbard, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Lydersen et al 2001, Kingsley 2002, Hobbs et al 2005.…”

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

642

547

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We review seven Arctic and four subarctic marine mammal species, their habitat requirements, and evidence for biological and demographic responses to climate change. We then describe a pan-Arctic quantitative index of species sensitivity to climate change based on population size, geographic range, habitat specificity, diet diversity, migration, site fidelity, sensitivity to changes in sea ice, sensitivity to changes in the trophic web, and maximum population growth potential (R max ). The index suggests three types of sensitivity based on: (1) narrowness of distribution and specialization in feeding, (2) seasonal dependence on ice, and (3) reliance on sea ice as a structure for access to prey and predator avoidance. Based on the index, the hooded seal, the polar bear, and the narwhal appear to be the three most sensitive Arctic marine mammal species, primarily due to reliance on sea ice and specialized feeding. The least sensitive species were the ringed seal and bearded seal, primarily due to large circumpolar distributions, large population sizes, and flexible habitat requirements. The index provides an objective framework for ranking species and focusing future research on the effects of climate change on Arctic marine mammals. Finally, we distinguish between highly sensitive species and good indicator species and discuss regional variation and species-specific ecology that confounds Arctic-wide generalization regarding the effects of climate change.

show abstract

Section: Species Rankings and Index Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

642

547

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, beluga whales commonly migrate between the Lancaster Sound and Baffin Bay regions (Richard et al 1998, 2001, Heide-Jørgensen et al 2003 or between Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin (Sergeant 1973). Harp seals follow the sea ice as it retreats in summer through Hudson Strait (Sergeant 1965), and such movements may have contributed to the FA similarities of bears in Foxe Basin, Hudson Bay, and Davis Strait (Fig.…”

Section: Polar Bear Fatty Acid Signaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polar Bear Diets and Arctic Marine Food Webs: Insights From Fatty Acid Analysis

Thiemann

Iverson

Stirling³

2008

Ecological Monographs

306

307

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We used quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) to examine the diets of 1738 individual polar bears (Ursus maritimus) sampled across the Canadian Arctic over a 30-year span. Polar bear foraging varied over large and small spatial and temporal scales, and between demographic groups. Diets in every subpopulation were dominated by ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and, in the eastern Arctic, secondarily by harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandica). Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) were an important food source for bears in the High Arctic, which is consistent with previous anecdotal reports. Foraging patterns were most similar among neighboring subpopulations with similar prey assemblages, but also differed geographically within Western Hudson Bay. The sexual size dimorphism of polar bears had an important effect on foraging, as large bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) were consumed most often by older, male bears, whereas ringed seals and, where available, harbor seals (P. vitulina) were most important to younger age classes. Larger, older bears also had the greatest dietary diversity, apparently because of their ability to include larger-bodied prey. During spring and summer, polar bears in some areas increased predation on migratory harp seals and beluga whales. In Western Hudson Bay, bearded seal consumption declined between 1995 and 2001 for both male and female bears and continued to decline among females up to the most recent sampling (2004). Ringed seal consumption in Western Hudson Bay increased between 1998 and 2001, perhaps in response to increased ringed seal productivity, but was not significantly affected by date of sea-ice breakup. Overall, our data indicate that polar bears are capable of opportunistically altering their foraging to take advantage of locally abundant prey, or to some degree compensating for a decline in a dominant prey species. However, in other areas polar bears are dependent on the availability of ringed and bearded seals. Recent population data suggest that polar bears with the most specialized diets may be most vulnerable to climate-related changes in ice conditions. The results of this large-scale, ecosystem-based study indicate a complex relationship between sea-ice conditions, prey population dynamics, and polar bear foraging.

show abstract

“…Satellite telemetry has proven to be a useful tool for monitoring the movements and dive behavior of belugas Smith, 1992, 1999;Heide-Jørgensen et al, 1998;Richard et al, 1998;Kingsley et al, 2001;Suydam et al, 2001). The decrease in the size of tags (mounted on the dorsal ridge) and the increase in tag longevity (both battery life and attachment time) have facilitated the remote and continuous collection of data from individual whales for many months at a time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movements and Area Use of Belugas, <i>Delphinapterus leucas</i>, in a Subarctic Alaskan Estuary

Hobbs¹,

Laidre²,

Vos³

et al. 2010

ARCTIC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Seasonal movements of 14 belugas in Cook Inlet, Alaska, were monitored by satellite telemetry between July and March in 2000 -03. Whales used waters in the upper Cook Inlet intensively between summer and late autumn and dispersed to mid-inlet offshore waters during winter months. All whales remained in Cook Inlet the entire time they were tracked, and several whales were tracked through March. During summer and early fall, movements were clearly concentrated in specific areas, generally river mouths or bays, where whales were likely feeding on fish runs. Average daily travel distances ranged from 11 to 30 km per day. Monthly home ranges, estimated using the 95% kernel probability distribution of average daily positions, were smallest in August (982 km 2 ), increased throughout autumn, and peaked in winter (reaching approximately 5000 km 2 ). The seasonal variation in distribution and movement patterns displayed by belugas in Cook Inlet affect the sighting rates and seasonal abundance estimates obtained for this depleted population.

show abstract

Fall Movements of Belugas (<i>Delphinapterus leucas</i>) with Satellite-linked Transmitters in Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound, and Northern Baffin Bay

Cited by 46 publications

References 10 publications

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Arctic Marine Mammals to Climate-Induced Habitat Change

Polar Bear Diets and Arctic Marine Food Webs: Insights From Fatty Acid Analysis

Movements and Area Use of Belugas, <i>Delphinapterus leucas</i>, in a Subarctic Alaskan Estuary

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About