Marine mammal and seabird summer distribution and abundance in the fjords of northeast Cumberland Sound of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Diemer, Kristen M.; Conroy, Michael J.; Ferguson, Steven H.; Hauser, Donna D. W.; Grgicak‐Mannion, Alice; Fisk, Aaron T.

doi:10.1007/s00300-010-0857-1

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The effect of interspecific competition could not be interpreted due to a lack of any accurate data on the abundance or density of subarctic mammals, such as harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and harp seals ( Pagophilus groenlandicus ) at each geographic location, but both species have been reported to be increasing in abundance in Hudson Bay and Cumberland Sound (Diemer et al. ; Bajzak et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, some of the site-specific variations in IS may not be solely predicted by ecological opportunity, as the level of intraspecific and interspecific competition for resources and predation pressure likely has influence at both locations (Svanb€ ack and Bolnick 2005Bolnick et al 2010). The effect of interspecific competition could not be interpreted due to a lack of any accurate data on the abundance or density of subarctic mammals, such as harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) at each geographic location, but both species have been reported to be increasing in abundance in Hudson Bay and Cumberland Sound (Diemer et al 2011;Bajzak et al 2012).…”

Section: Ecological Opportunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latitudinal variation in ecological opportunity and intraspecific competition indicates differences in niche variability and diet specialization of Arctic marine predators

Yurkowski

Ferguson

Choy

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Individual specialization (IS), where individuals within populations irrespective of age, sex, and body size are either specialized or generalized in terms of resource use, has implications on ecological niches and food web structure. Niche size and degree of IS of near‐top trophic‐level marine predators have been little studied in polar regions or with latitude. We quantified the large‐scale latitudinal variation of population‐ and individual‐level niche size and IS in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on 379 paired ringed seal liver and muscle samples and 124 paired beluga skin and muscle samples from eight locations ranging from the low to high Arctic. We characterized both within‐ and between‐individual variation in predator niche size at each location as well as accounting for spatial differences in the isotopic ranges of potential prey. Total isotopic niche width (TINW) for populations of ringed seals and beluga decreased with increasing latitude. Higher TINW values were associated with greater ecological opportunity (i.e., prey diversity) in the prey fish community which mainly consists of Capelin (Mallotus villosus) and Sand lance (Ammodytes sp.) at lower latitudes and Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) at high latitudes. In beluga, their dietary consistency between tissues also known as the within‐individual component (WIC) increased in a near 1:1 ratio with TINW (slope = 0.84), suggesting dietary generalization, whereas the slope (0.18) of WIC relative to TINW in ringed seals indicated a high degree of individual specialization in ringed seal populations with higher TINWs. Our findings highlight the differences in TINW and level of IS for ringed seals and beluga relative to latitude as a likely response to large‐scale spatial variation in ecological opportunity, suggesting species‐specific variation in dietary plasticity to spatial differences in prey resources and environmental conditions in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecological Opportunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal variation in ecological opportunity and intraspecific competition indicates differences in niche variability and diet specialization of Arctic marine predators

Yurkowski

Ferguson

Choy

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Diemer et al (2011), using the same census method and transect width (300 m) in Cumberland Sound fjords (Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada), recorded 959 birds from nine species during a 173 km effort, i.e. 5.5 ind.…”

Section: Foraging Community Structure and Habitat Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…km −1 surveyed. However, we have to treat these comparisons cautiously as both, Diemer et al (2011) and Schoen et al (2013), used transect method with prevailing pelagic parts of the vast study areas and we based on much shorter pelagic transect conducted at the entrance to considerably smaller Burgerbukta. The total number of 45 mammal sightings in Burgerbukta during the 17 surveys in our study is much lower than the 101 sightings in Cumberland Sound; in the latter site however, harp seals Pagophilus groenlandicus alone (73 ind.)…”

Section: Foraging Community Structure and Habitat Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surprisingly, more attention has so far been given to open sea areas (Hunt 1990;Joiris 2011;Gall et al 2016); yet assessments of the potential impact of a rapidly changing environment relates primarily to fjord areas and especially glacier bays, a subject that has been attracting increased attention (Apollonio 1973;Węsławski and Legeżyńska 1998;Stempniewicz et al 2007;Węsławski et al 2009;Arimitsu et al 2012;Lydersen et al 2014). Although surveys in remote regions can be logistically challenging, baseline information on the distribution and abundance of Arctic marine birds and mammals is essential to identify population changes, estimate and model their importance in ecosystem food webs, and implementing appropriate conservation and management strategies (Diemer et al 2011;Laidre et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marine birds and mammals foraging in the rapidly deglaciating Arctic fjord - numbers, distribution and habitat preferences

et al. 2016

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Climate-induced glacier retreat is considered in the context of its reducing the seaice contact zone used by marine birds and mammals as important foraging grounds and may cause declines in their numbers. To test this hypothesis, a survey was conducted in diversified habitats of a rapidly deglaciating Arctic fjord in Svalbard. Of the fifteen seabird and four mammal species found, coastal surface-feeders prevailed over benthic-feeders and pelagic pursuit-divers. Deep tidewater glacier bays were used by the most numerous but least heterogeneous foraging community, in contrast to the shallow lagoons of coastlineterminating glaciers and deglaciated shorelines. After the 15 years of glaciers retreat documented in Hornsund, the sea-ice contact zone used by birds and mammals has not declined. On the contrary, the increasing freshwater supply from underwater glacial rivers raising zooplankton up to the surface, thus making it available to seabirds, enhances the attractiveness of tidewater glacier bays. Along with the stage of retreat, the importance of glacier bays as feeding grounds changes. Foraging conditions deteriorate when the glacier terminus reaches the coastline and the glacier bay becomes shallower. However, glacier retreat enlarges the area of littoral habitats accessible to benthophages. Glacier-related habitats situated close to colony are used as alternative/emergency feeding grounds by seabirds that normally forage outside the fjord. This is especially important during the chick-rearing period and also during bad weather conditions in the open sea. Our study demonstrates that, so far, the abundance and species diversity of seabirds foraging in the rapidly deglaciating Hornsund are both high, suggesting that they benefit from the current intensive glacier melt. However, with further climate change an apparent biodiversity paradox may occur. Here, overall biodiversity will increase but local diversity of pagophilic species will decline. Such nonlinear responses complicate the prediction of future polar ecosystem dynamics.

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Diet and isotopic niche overlap elucidate competition potential between seasonally sympatric phocids in the Canadian Arctic

et al. 2019

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Marine mammal and seabird summer distribution and abundance in the fjords of northeast Cumberland Sound of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Cited by 15 publications

References 13 publications

Latitudinal variation in ecological opportunity and intraspecific competition indicates differences in niche variability and diet specialization of Arctic marine predators

Latitudinal variation in ecological opportunity and intraspecific competition indicates differences in niche variability and diet specialization of Arctic marine predators

Marine birds and mammals foraging in the rapidly deglaciating Arctic fjord - numbers, distribution and habitat preferences

Diet and isotopic niche overlap elucidate competition potential between seasonally sympatric phocids in the Canadian Arctic

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