scholarly journals Beluga Vocalizations Decrease in Response to Vessel Traffic in the Mackenzie River Estuary

ARCTIC ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Halliday ◽  
Kevin Scharffenberg ◽  
Shannon MacPhee ◽  
R. Casey Hilliard ◽  
Xavier Mouy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Mackenzie River

Vessel traffic negatively affects marine mammals by causing behavioural disturbance, acoustic masking, contamination (i.e., oil spills), and ship strikes. Few studies have examined the effects of vessels on marine mammals in the Arctic, but beluga whales appear to be especially sensitive to vessel traffic. We examine how the vocalizations of belugas are impacted by vessel traffic in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area in the Mackenzie River estuary of the western Canadian Arctic. Between one and four acoustic recorders were deployed between June and August each year between 2015 and 2018 near the only shipping channel at this site. We examined beluga vocalizations from acoustic recordings over four summers and assessed how the distance to the nearest vessel passing the acoustic recorder affected the number of vocalizations. Beluga vocalizations within the range of the acoustic recorder decreased significantly when vessels were within 5 km of the acoustic recorder. This result suggests either that belugas are avoiding the vessel or that they reduce their vocalization in response to vessel traffic. Future work is needed to assess exactly how belugas are reacting to vessel traffic in this area and what the long-term consequences of these reactions are. Management measures for reducing these impacts must be carefully considered, especially since these vessels are very restricted in where they can travel, and many of the vessels are necessary for the livelihoods of local communities.

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 Is Svalbard a pristine ecosystem? Reconstructing 420 years of human presence in an Arctic archipelago

Polar Record ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 518-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frigga Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Future Work

ABSTRACTThe Arctic is commonly perceived as a pristine wilderness, yet more than four centuries of human industry have not left Svalbard untouched. This paper explores the historical dimension of human-induced ecosystem change using human presence as a proxy. Its aims are fourfold: to reconstruct and quantify historical human presence, to ascertain if human presence is a suitable indicator of long-term anthropogenic pressure, to deduce trends in anthropogenic pressure on five selected species of game animal, and to postulate trends in their subpopulation sizes. Published sources give rise to 57 datasets dealing with the annual voyages to Svalbard as well as the participants in them. All known archaeological sites are visualised in a distribution map. Despite the large amount of data, the quantification of historical human presence remains biased and partial. Only with the aid of a timeline of known milestones is it possible to make hypotheses about changes in anthropogenic pressure and animal subpopulations over time. The exercise is nonetheless a necessary and instructive one: it confirms that the erroneous view of Svalbard as a pristine ecosystem hinders timely historical-ecological research. Future work must aim at the systematic quantification of past human impact in a holistic approach to environmental conservation and restoration.

Spring conditions and habitat use of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) during arrival to the Mackenzie River Estuary

Polar Biology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2319-2334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire A. Hornby ◽  
Carie Hoover ◽  
John Iacozza ◽  
David G. Barber ◽  
Lisa L. Loseto
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Mackenzie River

Migratory vertebrates shift migration timing and distributions in a warming Arctic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-131
Author(s):  
Thomas K. Lameris ◽  
Jeroen Hoekendijk ◽  
Geert Aarts ◽  
Aline Aarts ◽  
Andrew M. Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Migration Timing ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
Distribution Shifts ◽  
Term Monitoring

Abstract Climate warming in the Arctic has led to warmer and earlier springs, and as a result, many food resources for migratory animals become available earlier in the season, as well as become distributed further northwards. To optimally profit from these resources, migratory animals are expected to arrive earlier in the Arctic, as well as shift their own spatial distributions northwards. Here, we review literature to assess whether Arctic migratory birds and mammals already show shifts in migration timing or distribution in response to the warming climate. Distribution shifts were most prominent in marine mammals, as expected from observed northward shifts of their resources. At least for many bird species, the ability to shift distributions is likely constrained by available habitat further north. Shifts in timing have been shown in many species of terrestrial birds and ungulates, as well as for polar bears. Within species, we found strong variation in shifts in timing and distributions between populations. Ou r review thus shows that many migratory animals display shifts in migration timing and spatial distribution in reaction to a warming Arctic. Importantly, we identify large knowledge gaps especially concerning distribution shifts and timing of autumn migration, especially for marine mammals. Our understanding of how migratory animals respond to climate change appears to be mostly limited by the lack of long-term monitoring studies.

Levels of C10−C13Polychloro-n-Alkanes in Marine Mammals from the Arctic and the St. Lawrence River Estuary

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1615-1619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg T. Tomy ◽  
Derek C. G. Muir ◽  
Gary A. Stern ◽  
John B. Westmore
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
St Lawrence River

scholarly journals Upriver sightings of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) follow storm surges and high water in the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kevin C. Scharffenberg ◽  
Shannon A. MacPhee ◽  
Lisa L. Loseto
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring Program ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Storm Surges ◽  
High Water ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Mackenzie River

Each summer, Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas (Pallas, 1776)) form a large congregation in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area (TNMPA) in the Mackenzie River estuary, a behaviour thought to be linked to warm, freshwater conditions. In 2018, >50 belugas were observed upriver near Aklavik in the Mackenzie River Delta. Community members noted that this upriver occurrence of belugas was unusual and suggested that wind-driven high water levels in the Mackenzie River were a primary driver. We investigated this explanation by searching past communications and reports for documentation of beluga sightings upriver and identifying storm surges and water-level changes at six hydrometric stations in the Mackenzie River Delta. We found three previous occurrences of belugas upriver dating back to 2000, all of which followed prominent surges in river level attributable to coastal storms. Although acknowledging a small sample size, we suggest that upriver occurrences of beluga whales warrant further investigation through extension of the TNMPA beluga monitoring program. As climate-driven changes cause more frequent and intense Arctic storm surges, we expect storm events to increasingly overlap with the annual summer beluga congregation. This may cause upriver movements to become more common, and population-level implications are not known.

scholarly journals Belugas in the Mackenzie River estuary, NT, Canada: Habitat use and hot spots in the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 128-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois A. Harwood ◽  
John Iacozza ◽  
James C. Auld ◽  
Pamela Norton ◽  
Lisa Loseto
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Mackenzie River

scholarly journals Benthos Expert Network: Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Roy ◽  
Lis Lindal Jørgensen ◽  
Philippe Archambault ◽  
Martin Blicher ◽  
Nina Denisenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Marine Areas ◽  
Expert Network

Currently, > 4,000 macro- and megabenthic invertebrate species are known from Arctic seas, representing the majority of marine faunal diversity in this region. This estimate is expected to increase with future studies. Benthic invertebrates are important ecosystem components as food for fishes, marine mammals, seabirds and humans. The Benthos Expert Network of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) aggregated and reviewed information on the population status and trends of macro- and megabenthic invertebrates across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these communities. Drivers are affecting benthic communities on a variety of scales, ranging from pan-Arctic (related to climate change, such as warming, ice decline and acidification) to regional or local scales (such as trawling, river/glacier discharge, and invasive species). Long-term benthic monitoring efforts have largely focused on macro- and megabenthic communities of the Chukchi and Barents Seas. Recently, they are increasing in waters off Greenland and Iceland, as well as in the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea. All other Arctic Marine Areas are lacking long-term monitoring. The presentation will summarize current level of knowledge and monitoring across the Arctic, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

scholarly journals Benthos Expert Network: Findings and recommendations from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program’s State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Roy ◽  
Lis Lindal Jørgensen ◽  
Philippe Archambault ◽  
Martin Blicher ◽  
Nina Denisenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Marine Areas ◽  
Expert Network

Currently, > 4,000 macro- and megabenthic invertebrate species are known from Arctic seas, representing the majority of marine faunal diversity in this region. This estimate is expected to increase with future studies. Benthic invertebrates are important ecosystem components as food for fishes, marine mammals, seabirds and humans. The Benthos Expert Network of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) aggregated and reviewed information on the population status and trends of macro- and megabenthic invertebrates across eight Arctic Marine Areas as well as the state of current monitoring efforts for these communities. Drivers are affecting benthic communities on a variety of scales, ranging from pan-Arctic (related to climate change, such as warming, ice decline and acidification) to regional or local scales (such as trawling, river/glacier discharge, and invasive species). Long-term benthic monitoring efforts have largely focused on macro- and megabenthic communities of the Chukchi and Barents Seas. Recently, they are increasing in waters off Greenland and Iceland, as well as in the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea. All other Arctic Marine Areas are lacking long-term monitoring. The presentation will summarize current level of knowledge and monitoring across the Arctic, drivers of observed trends, and knowledge and monitoring gaps.

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