The Distribution and Abundance of Seals in the Canadian High Arctic, 1980–82

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1189-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. S. Kingsley ◽  
I. Stirling ◽  
W. Calvert
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Canadian High Arctic ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Preferred Habitat ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
Sverdrup Basin ◽  
Amundsen Gulf ◽  
Bearded Seals

Surveys of hauled-out ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) were flown in 1980 and 1981 over Jones Sound, the Sverdrup Basin, the channels between the Parry Islands, the Parry Channel, Prince of Wales Strait, and northern Amundsen Gulf. Part of the survey was flown again in 1982. Ringed seals were most numerous in Barrow Strait and Wellington Channel, their density decreasing westward and northward. Their preferred habitat was annual ice, fast or cracking, of high cover; they avoided deep water. Bearded seals were seen in low numbers in early-opening areas, preferring floe or rotten ice of moderate or low cover over shallow water.

Aspects of Predation of Seals by Polar Bears

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1126-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Stirling ◽  
W. Ralph Archibald
Keyword(s):  
High Arctic ◽  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
Western Arctic ◽  
Bearded Seals

Data were collected from 227 ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) killed by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the western arctic and the eastern high arctic. During periods of high ringed seal productivity, pups constituted at least half of the seals killed in both areas during the spring. Bearded seals were taken less often than ringed seals in both areas but were more important as prey to polar bears in the western arctic. Carcass utilization was significantly higher in the eastern high arctic than in the western arctic although the reason was not apparent. Scavenging of unutilized seal remains is probably of great importance to the survival of large numbers of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) through the winter. Key words: Ursus maritimus, Phoca hispida, Erignathus barbatus, predation, interspecific relationships, Arctic Ocean mammals

Distribution and abundance of ringed (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in western Hudson Bay

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 914-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
N J Lunn ◽  
I Stirling ◽  
S N Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Polar Bear ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Current Estimate ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Western Hudson Bay ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Bearded Seals

We flew a medium-altitude, systematic, strip-transect survey for ringed (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) over western Hudson Bay in early June 1994 and 1995. The mean density (per square kilometre) of ringed seals hauled out on the ice was four times higher in 1995 (1.690) than in 1994 (0.380). The 1994 survey appeared to underestimate seal abundance because it was flown too late. Ringed seals preferred high ice cover habitat (6 + /8 ice) and, within this habitat, favoured cracking ice and large floes. We found no consistent effect of either wind or cloud cover on habitat preference. We estimated a total of 1980 bearded seals and 140<|>880 ringed seals hauled out on the sea ice in June 1995. A recent review of the relationship between ringed seal and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) populations suggests that a visible population of this size should support a population of up to 1300 polar bears, which is in general agreement with the current estimate of 1250-1300 bears in western Hudson Bay.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium Spp. in the Intestinal Contents of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) and Bearded Seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1161-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent R. Dixon ◽  
Lorna J. Parrington ◽  
Monique Parenteau ◽  
Daniel Leclair ◽  
Mónica Santín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Cryptosporidium Spp ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
Intestinal Contents ◽  
Bearded Seals

Distribution and Abundance of Seals in the Eastern Beaufort Sea

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 976-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Stirling ◽  
W. Ralph Archibald ◽  
Douglas DeMaster
Keyword(s):  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
Independent Observations ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Bearded Seals

The objectives of this study were: (1) to design a statistically reliable method for surveying ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) that could be repeated and, (2) to obtain baseline information on the distribution, abundance, and general biology of ringed and bearded seals in relation to other mammals in the pack-ice ecosystem of the eastern Beaufort Sea.Because of the limitations encountered in aerial surveying during the period of optimum haul out, and the heterogeneous environment, we employed a stratified design incorporating a weighted linear regression model. Identical surveys, conducted from June 15 to 29, 1974 and from June 12 to 20, 1975, showed a significant decline in numbers of both seal species in 1975. This conclusion was supported by other independent observations. Observer bias in sighting and identifying the species of seals was tested for and rejected. Neither species was distributed randomly over the heterogeneous habitat but the degree of clumping was different. In general, bearded seals preferred shallower areas and ringed seals deeper ones.When the seal population declined, the reproductive rates of both species dropped markedly and young of the year virtually disappeared from the population. The reduction in numbers of seals stimulated a major change in reproductive rates of the polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) that depend upon them for food, and the bear and fox populations decreased in size.Some possible causes of the decline are discussed. This unprecedented variability in the stability of the marine ecosystem has serious management implications. Key words: census techniques, Phoca hispida, Erignathus barbatus, seals, interspecific relationships, Beaufort Sea

scholarly journals Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) vocalizations across seasons and habitat types in Svalbard, Norway

Polar Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel M. Llobet ◽  
Heidi Ahonen ◽  
Christian Lydersen ◽  
Jørgen Berge ◽  
Rolf Ims ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Erignathus Barbatus ◽  
Bearded Seals

AbstractMale bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) use vocal displays to attract females and to compete with other males during the mating season. This makes it possible to monitor breeding populations of this species using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). This study analysed year-round acoustic data records from AURAL instruments in Svalbard (Norway) to investigate seasonal variation in the acoustic presence of male bearded seals and the phenology of different call types (long, step and sweep trills) at three sites representing a variety of habitats with varied ice conditions. Male bearded seals vocalized for an extended period at a drift-ice site (Atwain; January–July) north of Spitsbergen, while the vocal season was shorter at a High Arctic land-fast-ice site (Rijpfjorden; February–June) and shorter yet again at a west-coast site that has undergone dramatic reductions in sea ice cover over the last 1.5 decades (Kongsfjorden; April–June). Generalized Additive Models showed marked seasonal segregation in the use of different trill types at Atwain, where call rates reached 400 per h, with long trills being the most numerous call type. Modest segregation of trill types was seen at Rijpfjorden, where call rates reached 300 per h, and no segregation occurred in Kongsfjorden (peak call rate 80 per h). Sea ice cover was available throughout the vocal season at Atwain and Rijpfjorden, while at Kongsfjorden peak vocal activity (May–June) occurred after the sea ice disappeared. Ongoing climate warming and sea ice reductions will likely increase the incidence of such mismatches and reduce breeding habitat for bearded seals.

Correlating middle Cretaceous palynological records from the Canadian High Arctic based on a section from the Sverdrup Basin and samples from the Eclipse Trough

Palynology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Galloway ◽  
Arthur R. Sweet ◽  
Adam Pugh ◽  
Claudia J. Schröder-Adams ◽  
Graeme T. Swindles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Arctic ◽  
Canadian High Arctic ◽  
Sverdrup Basin ◽  
Palynological Records

Lower Cretaceous cold snaps led to widespread glendonite occurrences in the Sverdrup Basin, Canadian High Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 129 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 771-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Grasby ◽  
Gennyne E. McCune ◽  
Benoit Beauchamp ◽  
Jennifer M. Galloway
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cretaceous ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Canadian High Arctic ◽  
Sverdrup Basin

scholarly journals Failure of reproduction in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Amundsen Gulf, Northwest Territories in 1984-1987

1998 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C S Kingsley ◽  
Tim J Byers
Keyword(s):  
Age Distribution ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
First Birth ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Amundsen Gulf ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Term Data

Ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Thesiger Bay (about 71 °45'N, 125°00'W), in northwestern Amundsen Gulf in the western Canadian Arctic, suffered a failure of pup production in the years before 1987, starting probably in 1984. Pups taken in the summer hunt in the years before 1987 were reported scarce, and in 1987 were only 2.8% of the total 4+ and older. This low reproduction was associated with poor body condition in females and with an age distribution of adults that was weighted toward older animals (the modal year class was the 8+ class). An unusually high proportion of adult females had never reproduced; the median age of first birth was estimated at 8.6 years. By the summer of 1988 the age distribution had changed toward younger animals (modal age 5+), in better condition (by 20%), which had almost all ovulated. Pups were more numerous in the catch. In 1989 pups were very numerous in the catch (142% of the 4+ adults) and the estimated mean ageof first birth had decreased to 5.3 years; almost all 5-year-olds sampled had borne pups. A similar occurrence of low pup production had been documented in the early 1970s, and resumption of reproductive activity had then also been associated with an apparent turnover of the population, the mean age of adults decreasing from 16-17 years when reproduction was low to 10.9 years in the year before reproduction resumed. Long-term data on ringed seals in the western Canadian Arctic has shown an average age at first ovulation of about 5.55 years and first birth just before age 7, about 1 year older than seen in this sample in 1989. Our 1989 sample may have been able to mature earlier because food was temporarily more abundant, or breeding densities temporarily lower, than long-term average values.

Winter Distribution of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) in the Barrow Strait Area, Northwest Territories, Determined by Underwater Vocalizations

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1238-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Calvert ◽  
Ian Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Diel Cycle ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Winter Distribution ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Habitat Variables

In order to assess underice distribution of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in winter, we made recordings from 23 to 30 April 1982 at 32 sites chosen to represent different habitats in the High Arctic. By regressing the vocalization rate at each site against variables for habitat quality, we found that sites in smooth interisland channels had significantly more vocalizations than sites in bays, and sites with frequent human activity had vocalization rates similar to the overall average. Although differences in vocalization rates correlated with some measured and estimated habitat variables, there was too much overlap between sites for vocalization rate alone to be useful in separating suitable and unsuitable pupping habitat. Recordings made at one site over 4 d showed a diel cycle in which vocalization rate was highest from about 08:30 to 16:30 and lowest at night.

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