Polar Bear Distribution and Habitat Association Reflect Long-term Changes in Fall Sea Ice Conditions in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

Gleason, Jeffrey S.; Rode, Karyn D.

doi:10.14430/arctic172

Cited by 35 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…These changes are thought to reflect a behavioural response by polar bears to changes in ice type and cover and the timing of ice formation and ablation (Gleason and Rode 2009). Polar bear denning locations have shifted in some regions in response to changing ice conditions, with fewer dens in MYI and more on shore (e.g., Fischbach et al 2007).…”

Section: Arctic Marine Mammals and Their Association With Sea Icementioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on Arctic marine mammals

et al. 2010

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Arctic sea ice has changed dramatically, especially during the last decade and continued declines in extent and thickness are expected for the decades to come. Some ice-associated marine mammals are already showing distribution shifts, compromised body condition and declines in production/abundance in response to sea-ice declines. In contrast, temperate marine mammal species are showing northward expansions of their ranges, which are likely to cause competitive pressure on some endemic Arctic species, as well as putting them at greater risk of predation, disease and parasite infections. The negative impacts observed to date within Arctic marine mammal populations are expected to continue and perhaps escalate over the coming decade, with continued declines in seasonal coverage of sea ice. This situation presents a significant risk to marine biodiversity among endemic Arctic marine mammals.

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Section: Arctic Marine Mammals and Their Association With Sea Icementioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on Arctic marine mammals

et al. 2010

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“…In some parts of the polar bear range, diminishing summer sea ice has resulted in the increased use of terrestrial habitat by polar bears (Stirling et al , Schliebe et al , Gleason and Rode , Cherry et al , Rode et al ). Longer ice‐free periods (Stern and Laidre ) shorten polar bear hunting opportunities during the critical hyperphagic period of late spring and early summer (Ramsay and Stirling ), when hunting conditions are most favorable (Stirling and Øritsland ), and extend the duration of the on‐land period through which polar bears must survive on finite stores of body fat (Cherry et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Polar bear attacks on humans: Implications of a changing climate

et al. 2017

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Understanding causes of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) attacks on humans is critical to ensuring both human safety and polar bear conservation. Although considerable attention has been focused on understanding black (U. americanus) and grizzly (U. arctos) bear conflicts with humans, there have been few attempts to systematically collect, analyze, and interpret available information on human‐polar bear conflicts across their range. To help fill this knowledge gap, a database was developed (Polar Bear‐Human Information Management System [PBHIMS]) to facilitate the range‐wide collection and analysis of human‐polar bear conflict data. We populated the PBHIMS with data collected throughout the polar bear range, analyzed polar bear attacks on people, and found that reported attacks have been extremely rare. From 1870–2014, we documented 73 attacks by wild polar bears, distributed among the 5 polar bear Range States (Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and United States), which resulted in 20 human fatalities and 63 human injuries. We found that nutritionally stressed adult male polar bears were the most likely to pose threats to human safety. Attacks by adult females were rare, and most were attributed to defense of cubs. We judged that bears acted as a predator in most attacks, and that nearly all attacks involved ≤2 people. Increased concern for both human and bear safety is warranted in light of predictions of increased numbers of nutritionally stressed bears spending longer amounts of time on land near people because of the loss of their sea ice habitat. Improved conflict investigation is needed to collect accurate and relevant data and communicate accurate bear safety messages and mitigation strategies to the public. With better information, people can take proactive measures in polar bear habitat to ensure their safety and prevent conflicts with polar bears. This work represents an important first step towards improving our understanding of factors influencing human‐polar bear conflicts. Continued collection and analysis of range‐wide data on interactions and conflicts will help increase human safety and ensure the conservation of polar bears for future generations. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Recent changes in sea-ice extent in the Arctic have been well documented (Stroeve et al 2007;Polyak et al 2010) and there is evidence emerging of adverse effects on biodiversity (Gleason and Rode 2009;Heide-Jørgensen et al 2010;Kovacs et al 2010). The nature of a species' association with sea ice is important and varies from the availability of ice algae as the basis of the food chain to the provision of suitable habitat for breeding and for use as a hunting platform (Marz 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Arctic Species Trend Index: using vertebrate population trends to monitor the health of a rapidly changing ecosystem

et al. 2012

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The task of measuring the change of Arctic biodiversity and instituting changes to halt and reverse any downturn has been taken up in response to the rapid changes observed in the region. It is an undertaking made more difficult by the rate at which environmental change is occurring and the difficulty in monitoring species in remote and challenging habitats. We explored techniques to aggregate population trends among vertebrate species. We compiled almost 900 time series data sets tracking trends in Arctic vertebrate populations over the past four decades representing 37% of all known Arctic vertebrate species. Our results showed strengths in the breadth of populations and species monitored and the disaggregation of the data to uncover regional trends. Limitations of the data set were still apparent, due to the lack of any stratified monitoring scheme. Specifically, there were more bird species data than any other vertebrate class. To measure progress towards global targets for the environment, such as the Aichi biodiversity targets for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), indicators like the one we have developed must be strengthened and adapted. Never has it been more important to understand how Arctic ecosystems and the living resources they support are responding to environmental change; tracking how they respond to growing and cumulative pressures will enable pre-emptive action to safeguard their future.

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Polar Bear Distribution and Habitat Association Reflect Long-term Changes in Fall Sea Ice Conditions in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

Cited by 35 publications

References 61 publications

Impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on Arctic marine mammals

Impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on Arctic marine mammals

Polar bear attacks on humans: Implications of a changing climate

The Arctic Species Trend Index: using vertebrate population trends to monitor the health of a rapidly changing ecosystem

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