Predation of Svalbard reindeer by polar bears

Derocher, Andrew E.; Wiig, Øystein; Bangjord, Georg

doi:10.1007/s003000000138

Cited by 143 publications

(120 citation statements)

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“…Polar bears feed on ringed and bearded seals and occasionally take belugas, narwhals, walrus, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and birds (Smith 1985, Calvert and Stirling 1990, Smith and Sjare 1990, Stirling and Øritsland 1995, Derocher et al 2000. Bears in Davis Strait are thought to take substantial numbers of harp and hooded seals at the whelping and molting patches where those species are seasonally abundant and accessible .…”

Section: Arctic Ice-associated Pinnipedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

630

547

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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.

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Section: Arctic Ice-associated Pinnipedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Laidre

Stirling²,

Lowry

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

630

547

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Besides polar bears (Ursus maritimus), which occasionally prey on Svalbard reindeer (Derocher et al 2000;Sandal 2008;Hovelsrud 2009), and Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), which kill a few newborn calves (Tyler 1986), there are no other predators that are part of the natural habitat of reindeer elsewhere. This situation has prevailed for at least 4000 years (Van der Knaap 1986;Tyler & Øritsland 1989).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Svalbard reindeer population size and trends in four sub-areas of Edgeøya

Reimers

2012

Polar Research

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“…Their study showed that polar bears in Svalbard feed on eggs, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and vegetation, in addition to seals. Reindeer predation by Svalbard polar bears was also documented by Derocher et al (2000), and Hedberg et al (2011) found fatty acids in polar bear milk that indicated that they had fed on reindeer.…”

Section: Polar Bear Diet In the Barents Seamentioning

confidence: 88%