The utility of drones for studying polar bear behaviour in the Canadian Arctic: opportunities and recommendations

Abstract

Climate-induced sea-ice loss represents the greatest threat to polar bears (Ursus maritimus), and utilizing drones to characterize behavioural responses to sea-ice loss is valuable to forecasting polar bear persistence. In this manuscript, we review previously published literature and draw on our own experience of using multirotor aerial drones to study polar bear behaviour in the Canadian Arctic. Specifically, we suggest that drones can minimize human-bear conflicts by allowing users to observe bears from a safe vantage point; produce high-quality behavioural data that can be reviewed as many times as needed and shared with multiple stakeholders; and foster knowledge generation through co-production with northern communities. We posit that in some instances drones may be considered as an alternative tool for studying polar bear foraging behaviour, interspecific interactions, human-bear interactions, human safety and conflict mitigation, and den-site location at individual-level, small spatial scales. Finally, we discuss flying techniques to ensure ethical operation around polar bears, regulatory requirements to consider, and recommend that future research focus on understanding polar bears’ behavioural and physiological responses to drones and the efficacy of drones as a deterrent tool for safety purposes.

An interspecific foraging association with polar bears increases foraging opportunities for avian predators in a declining Arctic seabird colony

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Artificial intelligence for automated detection of large mammals creates path to upscale drone surveys

“…It may also be helpful to incorporate object tracking components from video footage into the CNN analysis method, to reduce double counts of the same individuals. In any case, it is important that flight plans consider minimizing behavioral responses to reduce the chances that animals do not move in reaction to the aircraft 59 , 60 . Moreover, if we could design surveys to reduce double counting close to zero, we could be able to explore the use of hierarchical models to detect and classify individuals.…”

UAV Avionics Safety, Certification, Accidents, Redundancy, Integrity and Reliability: A Comprehensive Review and Future Trends

“…For this exam, candidates must show understanding of many other concepts including air law, air traffic rules, procedures, human factors, meteorology, navigation, flight operations, flight theory and radiotelephony [43]. Both basic and advanced pilots need to register their UAVs with TC in accordance with regulation 901.06, which can easily be done through TC's Drone Management Portal [45]- [50].…”