Assessment of neurotoxic effects of mercury in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), ringed seals (Pusa hispida), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the Canadian Arctic

2015 ◽  
Vol 509-510 ◽  
pp. 237-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Krey ◽  
Sonja K. Ostertag ◽  
Hing Man Chan
Keyword(s):  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Neurotoxic Effects ◽  
Pusa Hispida

The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Ian Stirling ◽  
Kristin L. Laidre ◽  
Andrew E. Derocher ◽  
Rinie Van Meurs
Keyword(s):  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Food Caching ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Pagophilus Groenlandicus ◽  
Hoarding Behavior ◽  
Pusa Hispida

The paucity of observations of wild polar bears (Ursus maritimus) caching of food (including hoarding, i.e., burying and remaining with a kill for up to a few days) has led to the conclusion that such behavior does not occur or is negligible in this species. We document 19 observations of short-term hoarding by polar bears between 1973 and 2018 in Svalbard, Greenland, and Canada. Short-term hoarding appears to be influenced by size of the kill and its remaining energetic value after the first meal has been consumed. Fat and meat from smaller seals, such as pup or yearling ringed seals (Pusa hispida), are largely devoured immediately, leaving little to hoard. Carcasses of adult ringed seals, harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) may be covered with snow to reduce the chance of kleptoparasitism by another bear or other scavengers visually detecting a dark spot on the ice, while the hoarding bear lies nearby. Hoarding of other species, such as beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) (calves or parts) or other polar bears, appears opportunistic. We review differences in caching, including short-term hoarding behavior between polar bears and brown bears (U. arctos), and hypothesize about factors that may have influenced their evolution.

Vitamin A and E profiles as biomarkers of PCB exposure in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the western Canadian Arctic

2013 ◽  
Vol 142-143 ◽  
pp. 317-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre W. Desforges ◽  
Peter S. Ross ◽  
Neil Dangerfield ◽  
Vince P. Palace ◽  
Michael Whiticar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Pcb Exposure

scholarly journals The summer soundscape of a shallow-water estuary used by beluga whales in the western Canadian Arctic

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Halliday ◽  
Kevin Scharffenberg ◽  
Dustin Whalen ◽  
Shannon A. MacPhee ◽  
Lisa L. Loseto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Important Habitat

The soundscape is an important habitat component for marine animals. In the Arctic, marine conditions are changing rapidly due to sea ice loss and increased anthropogenic activities such as shipping, which will influence the soundscape. Here, we assess the contributors to the summer soundscape in the shallow waters of the Mackenzie River estuary within the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area in the western Canadian Arctic, a core summering habitat for beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas Pallas, 1776). We collected passive acoustic data during the summer over four years, and assessed the influence of physical variables, beluga whale vocalizations, and boat noise on sound pressure levels in three frequency bands (low: 0.2–1 kHz; medium: 1–10 kHz; high: 10–48 kHz) to quantify the soundscape. Wind speed, wave height, beluga vocalizations, and boat noise were all large contributors to the soundscape in various frequency bands. The soundscape varied to a lesser degree between sites, time of day, and with tide height, but remained relatively constant between years. This study is the first detailed description of a shallow summer soundscape in the western Canadian Arctic, an important habitat for beluga whales, and can be used as a baseline to monitor future changes during this season.

scholarly journals Mercury in Ringed Seals ( Pusa hispida ) from the Canadian Arctic in Relation to Time and Climate Parameters

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2462-2474
Author(s):  
Magali Houde ◽  
Zofia E. Taranu ◽  
Xiaowa Wang ◽  
Brent Young ◽  
P. Gagnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Climate Parameters ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Pusa Hispida

Relationships between estimates of ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations in the Canadian Arctic

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 2594-2612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Stirling ◽  
Nils Are Øritsland
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Polar Bear ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
The Relationship

Analysis of estimates of population size of ringed s,eals (Phoca hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from several areas indicated that estimates of one predicted the range of expected population size of the other in areas where ringed seals constitute the primary prey. In some areas, the closeness of this relationship indicates where estimates of either seals or bears may be inaccurate. The number of seals required to support a population of polar bears of predetermined size was estimated independently using both behavioral and energetic data. Behavioral estimates of the number of seals killed may overestimate energetic requirements and vice versa. Predation and energy matrices indicated that high levels of predation on seals are sustainable only if most animals killed are young-of-the-year. The field metabolic rate of the polar bear appears to be about twice the basal metabolic rate. Densities of seals vary in response to overall productivity of the ecosystem in different areas, and fluctuations in their numbers and reproductive rates between years can be used to monitor changes in productivity of the ecosystem. These changes also cause variation in productivity of bears, which indicates the sensitivity, at the population level, of the relationship between ringed seals and polar bears.

Seasonal Movements and Diving of Ringed Seals, Pusa hispida, in the Western Canadian Arctic, 1999–2001 and 2010–11

ARCTIC ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois A. Harwood ◽  
Thomas G. Smith ◽  
James C. Auld ◽  
Humfrey Melling ◽  
David J. Yurkowski
Keyword(s):  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Seasonal Movements ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Pusa Hispida
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