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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 641:227-240 (2020)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13293

Patterns of sea ice drift and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) movement in Hudson Bay

Natasha J. Klappstein1,*, Ron R. Togunov1,2, Jody R. Reimer1,3, Nicholas J. Lunn4, Andrew E. Derocher1

1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
2Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
3Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
4Wildlife Research Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, CW-422 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Sea ice habitats are highly dynamic, and ice drift may affect the energy expenditure of travelling animals. Several studies in the high Arctic have reported increased ice drift speeds, and consequently, polar bears Ursus maritimus in these areas expended more energy on counter-ice movement for station-keeping. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal dynamics of ice drift in Hudson Bay (HB) and its implications for the declining Western Hudson Bay (WH) polar bear subpopulation. Using sea ice drift data from 1987-2015 and polar bear satellite telemetry location data from 2004-2015, we examined trends in drift speeds in HB, polar bear movement relative to drift, and assessed annual and individual variation. In contrast to other areas of the Arctic, we did not find an increase in ice drift speed over the period examined. However, variability in ice drift speed increased over time, which suggests reduced habitat predictability. Polar bear movement direction was not strongly counter to ice drift in any month, and ice drift speed and direction had little effect on bear movement rates and, thus, energy expenditure. On an annual scale, we found individuals varied in their exposure and response to ice drift, which may contribute to variability in body condition. However, the lack of a long-term increase in ice drift speed suggests this is unlikely to be the main factor affecting the body condition decline observed in the WH subpopulation. Our results contrast findings in other subpopulations and demonstrate the need for subpopulation-specific research and risk evaluation.


KEY WORDS: Polar bear · Sea ice drift · Remote sensing · Animal movement · Environmental variability · Interindividual variability · Hudson Bay


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Cite this article as: Klappstein NJ, Togunov RR, Reimer JR, Lunn NJ, Derocher AE (2020) Patterns of sea ice drift and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) movement in Hudson Bay. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 641:227-240. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13293

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