The Role of Satellite Telemetry Data in 21st Century Conservation of Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

Abstract

Satellite telemetry (ST) has played a critical role in the management and conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) over the last 50 years. ST data provide biological information relevant to subpopulation delineation, movements, habitat use, maternal denning, health, human-bear interactions, and accurate estimates of vital rates and abundance. Given that polar bears are distributed at low densities over vast and remote habitats, much of the information provided by ST data cannot be collected by other means. Obtaining ST data for polar bears requires chemical immobilization and application of a tracking device. Although immobilization has not been found to have negative effects beyond a several-day reduction in activity, over the last few decades opposition to immobilization and deployment of satellite-linked radio collars has resulted in a lack of current ST data in many of the 19 recognized polar bear subpopulations. Here, we review the uses of ST data for polar bears and evaluate its role in addressing 21st century conservation and management challenges, which include estimation of sustainable harvest rates, understanding the impacts of climate warming, delineating critical habitat, and assessing potential anthropogenic impacts from tourism, resource development and extraction. We found that in subpopulations where ST data have been consistently collected, information was available to estimate vital rates and subpopulation density, document the effects of sea-ice loss, and inform management related to subsistence harvest and regulatory requirements. In contrast, a lack of ST data in some subpopulations resulted in increased bias and uncertainty in ecological and demographic parameters, which has a range of negative consequences. As sea-ice loss due to climate warming continues, there is a greater need to monitor polar bear distribution, habitat use, abundance, and subpopulation connectivity. We conclude that continued collection of ST data will be critically important for polar bear management and conservation in the 21st century and that the benefits of immobilizing small numbers of individual polar bears in order to deploy ST devices significantly outweigh the risks.

The cost of research: Lasting effects of capture, surgery and muscle biopsy on brown bear (Ursus arctos) movement and physiology

“…Additionally, medetomidine has been shown to negatively impact the cardiovascular system, causing hypotension and bradycardia as well as disrupted thermoregulation (Kreeger et al 2023). Nevertheless, these effects are rapidly offset following administration of the antagonist, suggesting a lack of persistence over time.…”

“…In case of hypothermia, i.e. T b ≥ 2°C below normal (Kreeger et al 2023), the bears were moved into the sun and/or covered with an insulated blanket and an external heat source applied. Hyperthermia, i.e.…”

“…Hyperthermia, i.e. T b ≥ 2°C above normal (Kreeger et al 2023), was treated by removing the animal from direct sunlight, spraying or packing the animal's groin and feet with cold water and water bags and intravenous administration of Ringer's solution (Kreeger et al 2023). All captured bears in winter and summer were administered 0.5 L Ringer® acetate intravenously to avoid hyperthermia, but also to compensate for fluid loss due to the chase by the helicopter (in summer) as well as the blood samples that are taken as part of the translational medicine study (average of 200 ml of blood taken from each individual bear).…”

Drivers of polar bear behavior and the possible effects of prey availability on foraging strategy

“…Quantifying behavioral time-budgets and factors that promote different behaviors is key to understanding a species’ ecology. Remote tracking has elucidated much about polar bear habitat use [ 77 ], however behavioral research has typically been limited to two states or less (e.g., [ 104 , 107 ], but see [ 4 , 161 ]). Using advanced models that integrate wind data [ 155 ], our study described previously undocumented circadian patterns in Western Hudson Bay polar bears, as well as behavioral variation with respect to season and ice concentration that appear to reflect a shift in foraging strategy in response to a change in prey availability (i.e., increase in haul-out behavior from early winter to the spring pupping and molting seasons).…”

Drivers of polar bear behavior, and the possible effects of prey availability on foraging strategy

“…Quantifying behavioral time-budgets and factors that promote different behaviors is key to understanding a species’ ecology. Remote tracking has elucidated much about polar bear habitat use (Laidre et al, 2022), however behavioral research has typically been limited to two states or less (e.g., Auger-Méthé et al, 2016; Ware et al, 2020, but see Pagano et al 2017, 2020). Using advanced models that integrate wind data (Togunov et al, 2021), our study described previously undocumented circadian patterns in Western Hudson Bay polar bears, as well as behavioral variation with respect to season and ice concentration that appear to reflect a shift in foraging strategy in response to a change in prey availability (i.e., increase in haul-out behavior from early winter to the spring pupping and molting seasons).…”