Movement, diving, and haul-out behaviors of juvenile bearded seals in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas, 2014–2018

Olnes, Justin; Crawford, Justin A.; Citta, John J.; Druckenmiller, Matthew L.; Duyke, Andrew L. Von; Quakenbush, Lori T.

doi:10.1007/s00300-020-02710-6

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This relationship with higher ice concentrations is similar to the IK documented near Utqiaġvik, which suggests that the behaviour of the seven bearded seals tagged by McClintock et al ( 2017) is consistent at the population level. The association between juvenile bearded seals and the ice edge identified by Olnes et al (2020), Cameron et al (2018), andBreed et al (2018) was also independently identified by the hunters we interviewed. Juvenile bearded seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas had the highest probability of use in ice concentrations of 50%-60% in spring and winter (Breed et al 2018), whereas Cameron et al (2018) found that juvenile bearded seals selected ice concentrations up to 80% in the Bering Sea in fall and winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Juvenile bearded seals in the Bering and Chukchi seas had the highest probability of use in ice concentrations of 50%-60% in spring and winter (Breed et al 2018), whereas Cameron et al (2018) found that juvenile bearded seals selected ice concentrations up to 80% in the Bering Sea in fall and winter. Olnes et al (2020) found that juvenile bearded seals in the Chukchi and Bering seas were, on average, associated with ice <50% concentration, but in ice up to 67% concentration if in the pack ice in winter and spring, and in <25% ice concentration in summer. The results of these studies are similar to those documented here; however, Cameron et al (2018) and Breed et al (2018) used animals tagged in Kotzebue Sound, which did not travel to the area near Utqiaġvik, and Olnes et al (2020) had only two animals that used the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Olnes et al (2020) found that juvenile bearded seals in the Chukchi and Bering seas were, on average, associated with ice <50% concentration, but in ice up to 67% concentration if in the pack ice in winter and spring, and in <25% ice concentration in summer. The results of these studies are similar to those documented here; however, Cameron et al (2018) and Breed et al (2018) used animals tagged in Kotzebue Sound, which did not travel to the area near Utqiaġvik, and Olnes et al (2020) had only two animals that used the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. For ringed seals, the IK specified the same relationships between high ice concentrations (100%) and the use of land-fast ice in spring as those identified by Kelly et al (2010a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The potential differences in temporal and spatial scales between IK and scientific data (e.g., satellite telemetry and surveys) and differences in knowledge systems have been noted as a strength to expand our understanding of ecology (e.g., Huntington et al 2004;Gagnon and Berteaux 2009;Polfus et al 2014;Service et al 2014;Tengö et al 2014;Reid et al 2020). Relationships between sea ice and ringed seals have been modelled using telemetry data (Kelly et al 2010a;Crawford et al 2012;Yurkowski et al 2016;VonDuyke et al 2020), as well as for bearded seals (Breed et al 2018;Cameron et al 2018;Olnes et al 2020). Further, associations between bearded seals and spotted seals and different water masses have been modelled (Gryba et al 2019), and relationships between spotted seals and shorelines and ice have also been documented (Lowry et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, associations between bearded seals and spotted seals and different water masses have been modelled (Gryba et al 2019), and relationships between spotted seals and shorelines and ice have also been documented (Lowry et al 2000). However, telemetry studies may be limited to juveniles, due to size and handling limitations, and (or), rely on low numbers of tags deployed each year due to resource constraints (e.g., Breed et al 2012;Gryba et al 2019;Olnes et al 2020). These species also undergo a molt in the spring, which dictates when they can be tagged and when tags will drop off, resulting in limited data during pupping and breeding season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indigenous Knowledge of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and spotted seal (Phoca largha) behaviour and habitat use near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, USA

Gryba

Huntington²,

Duyke

et al. 2021

Arctic Science

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Indigenous people possess information of animals’ habitat use and behaviour; information essential for management and conservation of species affected by climate change. Accessibility of species that are important to Indigenous hunters may also change with environmental conditions. We documented Indigenous Knowledge of bearded (ugruk in Iñupiaq), ringed (natchiq), and spotted seals (qasigiaq) in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, using semi-directed interviews with Iñupiaq hunters. This study originated from discussions with an agency of the regional municipal government to serve co-management efforts and understand habitat use of species subjected to climate change. Results indicated that ringed seals are associated with higher ice concentrations in winter than bearded seals and changes in sea ice retreat in spring may have greater impact on ringed seal habitat use because they are more likely to haul out on ice in spring. Additionally, all three species have foraging hotspots, used over several days by multiple individuals. Bearded seals, and to a lesser extent spotted and ringed seals, will use currents to forage. Results also revealed the use of inland water bodies and terrestrial habitat, which may become more important for bearded and ringed seals with changing ice concentrations and should be considered in management and conservation of these species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Indigenous Knowledge of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and spotted seal (Phoca largha) behaviour and habitat use near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, USA

Gryba

Huntington²,

Duyke

et al. 2021

Arctic Science

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Diet energy density estimated from isotopes in predator hair associated with survival, habitat, and population dynamics

Rode

Taras

Stricker

et al. 2022

Ecological Applications

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Sea ice loss is fundamentally altering the Arctic marine environment. Yet there is a paucity of data on the adaptability of food webs to ecosystem change, including predator–prey interactions. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are an important subsistence resource for Indigenous people and an apex predator that relies entirely on the under‐ice food web to meet its energy needs. In this study, we assessed whether polar bears maintained dietary energy density by prey switching in response to spatiotemporal variation in prey availability. We compared the macronutrient composition of diets inferred from stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in polar bear guard hair (primarily representing summer/fall diet) during periods when bears had low and high survival (2004–2016), between bears that summered on land versus pack ice, and between bears occupying different regions of the Alaskan and Canadian Beaufort Sea. Polar bears consumed diets with lower energy density during periods of low survival, suggesting that concurrent increased dietary proportions of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) did not offset reduced proportions of ringed seals (Pusa hispida). Diets with the lowest energy density and proportions from ringed seal blubber were consumed by bears in the western Beaufort Sea (Alaska) during a period when polar bear abundance declined. Intake required to meet energy requirements of an average free‐ranging adult female polar bear was 2.1 kg/day on diets consumed during years with high survival but rose to 3.0 kg/day when survival was low. Although bears that summered onshore in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea had higher‐fat diets than bears that summered on the pack ice, access to the remains of subsistence‐harvested bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) contributed little to improving diet energy density. Because most bears in this region remain with the sea ice year round, prey switching and consumption of whale carcasses onshore appear insufficient to augment diets when availability of their primary prey, ringed seals, is reduced. Our results show that a strong predator–prey relationship between polar bears and ringed seals continues in the Beaufort Sea. The method of estimating dietary blubber using predator hair, demonstrated here, provides a new metric to monitor predator–prey relationships that affect individual health and population demographics.

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Oceanographic influences on spotted seal foraging in the Pacific Arctic

Olnes,

Crawford,

Okkonen

et al. 2023

Continental Shelf Research

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Movement, diving, and haul-out behaviors of juvenile bearded seals in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas, 2014–2018

Cited by 17 publications

References 26 publications

Indigenous Knowledge of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and spotted seal (Phoca largha) behaviour and habitat use near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, USA

Indigenous Knowledge of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and spotted seal (Phoca largha) behaviour and habitat use near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, USA

Diet energy density estimated from isotopes in predator hair associated with survival, habitat, and population dynamics

Oceanographic influences on spotted seal foraging in the Pacific Arctic

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