Site fidelity of Svalbard polar bears revealed by mark-recapture positions

Lone, Karen; Aars, Jon; Ims, Rolf A.

doi:10.1007/s00300-012-1235-y

Cited by 20 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…While our sample size was small and included only two consecutive years, we provide evidence that Foxe Basin bears had fidelity to retreat and spring feeding areas, and likely breeding areas. This fidelity is concordant with the accumulating observations of repeated use of sites and area fidelity on annual and seasonal time frames in seasonal and multiyear ice ecoregions (Schweinsburg et al 1982;Derocher and Stirling 1990;Born et al 1997;Amstrup et al 2000;Mauritzen et al 2001;Wiig et al 2003;Lone et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…; Lone et al. ). For example, pregnant females show fidelity to denning areas, return with their offspring and thereby may imprint travel routes and spatial information on their young (Derocher and Stirling ; Ramsay and Stirling ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Genetic analysis of polar bears has identified four broad groupings with subgroups of varying levels of distinction (Paetkau et al 1999;Peacock et al 2015). The population structure arises from spatial and temporal fidelity (Mauritzen et al 2001;Lone et al 2012). For example, pregnant females show fidelity to denning areas, return with their offspring and thereby may imprint travel routes and spatial information on their young (Derocher and Stirling 1990;Ramsay and Stirling 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population substructure and space use of Foxe Basin polar bears

Sahanatien

Peacock

Derocher

2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate change has been identified as a major driver of habitat change, particularly for sea ice-dependent species such as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Population structure and space use of polar bears have been challenging to quantify because of their circumpolar distribution and tendency to range over large areas. Knowledge of movement patterns, home range, and habitat is needed for conservation and management. This is the first study to examine the spatial ecology of polar bears in the Foxe Basin management unit of Nunavut, Canada. Foxe Basin is in the mid-Arctic, part of the seasonal sea ice ecoregion and it is being negatively affected by climate change. Our objectives were to examine intrapopulation spatial structure, to determine movement patterns, and to consider how polar bear movements may respond to changing sea ice habitat conditions. Hierarchical and fuzzy cluster analyses were used to assess intrapopulation spatial structure of geographic position system satellite-collared female polar bears. Seasonal and annual movement metrics (home range, movement rates, time on ice) and home-range fidelity (static and dynamic overlap) were compared to examine the influence of regional sea ice on movements. The polar bears were distributed in three spatial clusters, and there were differences in the movement metrics between clusters that may reflect sea ice habitat conditions. Within the clusters, bears moved independently of each other. Annual and seasonal home-range fidelity was observed, and the bears used two movement patterns: on-ice range residency and annual migration. We predict that home-range fidelity may decline as the spatial and temporal predictability of sea ice changes. These new findings also provide baseline information for managing and monitoring this polar bear population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population substructure and space use of Foxe Basin polar bears

Sahanatien

Peacock

Derocher

2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The presence of genetic structure in polar bears could be a result of geographic features such as polynyas or landmasses that can act as barriers to gene flow (Paetkau et al, 1999) or could be linked to characteristics of sea-ice habitat, which can influence polar bear movement (Derocher & Stirling, 1990;Stirling et al, 2004). For example, the split within FB that we found may be due to the pattern of sea-ice breakup in Foxe Basin as the northern portion of the basin retains ice longer (Stewart & Barber, 2010) (Born, Wiig, & Thomassen, 1997;Cherry, Derocher, Thiemann, & Lunn, 2013;Derocher & Stirling, 1990;Harrington, 1968;Lone, Aars, & Ims, 2013;Ramsay & Stirling, 1990). This could be the case for individuals with membership in the Southeast cluster, which were exclusively sampled in James Bay (Akimiski Island).…”

Section: Origins Of Population Structurementioning

confidence: 88%

Assessing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population structure in the Hudson Bay region using SNPs

Viengkone

Derocher

Richardson

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Defining subpopulations using genetics has traditionally used data from microsatellite markers to investigate population structure; however, single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have emerged as a tool for detection of fine‐scale structure. In Hudson Bay, Canada, three polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations (Foxe Basin (FB), Southern Hudson Bay (SH), and Western Hudson Bay (WH)) have been delineated based on mark–recapture studies, radiotelemetry and satellite telemetry, return of marked animals in the subsistence harvest, and population genetics using microsatellites. We used SNPs to detect fine‐scale population structure in polar bears from the Hudson Bay region and compared our results to the current designations using 414 individuals genotyped at 2,603 SNPs. Analyses based on discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and STRUCTURE support the presence of four genetic clusters: (i) Western—including individuals sampled in WH, SH (excluding Akimiski Island in James Bay), and southern FB (south of Southampton Island); (ii) Northern—individuals sampled in northern FB (Baffin Island) and Davis Strait (DS) (Labrador coast); (iii) Southeast—individuals from SH (Akimiski Island in James Bay); and (iv) Northeast—individuals from DS (Baffin Island). Population structure differed from microsatellite studies and current management designations demonstrating the value of using SNPs for fine‐scale population delineation in polar bears.

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“…Among recaptures, only two females lost their cubs between spring and autumn of the same year, one female lost two cubs from one spring to the next and two females lost one cub from one autumn to the next. Based on observed displacements recorded by marked individuals of the Barents Sea subpopulation (Lone et al, 2013) as well as sea ice characteristics, we categorized three sampling zones (Figure 1). For instance, sea ice is less extended and has a lower density along the West coast of Svalbard compared to the East coast (Vinje and Kvambekk, 1991;Hop et al, 2000).…”

Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentiation of ecological factors on the disruption of thyroid hormones by organo-halogenated contaminants in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Barents Sea

Bourgeon

Riemer

Tartu

et al. 2017

Environmental Research

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As apex predators, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are among the most heavily polluted organisms in the Arctic. In addition to this anthropogenic stressor, climate warming has been shown to negatively affect their body condition, reproductive output and survival. Among potential underlying physiological mechanisms, thyroid hormones (THs), which control thermoregulation, metabolism and reproduction, can be affected by a variety of both natural and anthropogenic factors. While THs have been extensively used as proxies for pollution exposure in mammals, including polar bears, there is a lack of knowledge of their natural variations. In this context, we examined seasonal variations in body condition and circulating TH concentrations in free-ranging female polar bears. Females with variable reproductive status (i.e., solitary, with cubs of the year or with yearlings) were sampled from locations with contrasted sea ice conditions. Furthermore, we studied THs in relation to levels of organohalogenated contaminants. As predicted, solitary females were in better condition than females caring for offspring, especially in spring. In addition, TH levels were lower in autumn compared to spring, although this seasonal effect was mainly observed in solitary females.Finally, the negative relationships between organochlorine and perfluoroalkyl substances and some THs suggest a possible alteration of homeostasis of THs. Since the latter relationships were only observed during spring, we emphasize the importance of considering the ecological factors when using THs as proxies for pollution exposure. Yet, the combined effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on THs might impair the ability of polar bears to adapt to ongoing climate changes.

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Site fidelity of Svalbard polar bears revealed by mark-recapture positions

Cited by 20 publications

References 75 publications

Population substructure and space use of Foxe Basin polar bears

Population substructure and space use of Foxe Basin polar bears

Assessing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population structure in the Hudson Bay region using SNPs

Potentiation of ecological factors on the disruption of thyroid hormones by organo-halogenated contaminants in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Barents Sea

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