Distribution and abundance of beluga whales in the Mackenzie estuary, southeast Beaufort Sea, and west Amundsen Gulf during late July 1992

1996 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 2262-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
L A Harwood ◽  
S Innes ◽  
P Norton ◽  
MCS Kingsley
Keyword(s):  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Amundsen Gulf

Evidence for microbial attenuation of particle flux in the Amundsen Gulf and Beaufort Sea: elevated hydrolytic enzyme activity on sinking aggregates

Polar Biology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 2007-2023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen T. E. Kellogg ◽  
Shelly D. Carpenter ◽  
Alisha A. Renfro ◽  
Amélie Sallon ◽  
Christine Michel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Particle Flux ◽  
Hydrolytic Enzyme ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Amundsen Gulf

scholarly journals Foraminiferal assemblage changes over the last 15,000 years on the Mackenzie-Beaufort Sea Slope and Amundsen Gulf, Canada: Implications for past sea ice conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Scott ◽  
Trecia Schell ◽  
Guillaume St-Onge ◽  
André Rochon ◽  
Steve Blasco
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Foraminiferal Assemblage ◽  
Ice Conditions ◽  
Amundsen Gulf

Life strategy and diet of Calanus glacialis during the winter–spring transition in Amundsen Gulf, south-eastern Beaufort Sea

Polar Biology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 1929-1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anette Wold ◽  
Gérald Darnis ◽  
Janne E. Søreide ◽  
Eva Leu ◽  
Benoit Philippe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Life Strategy ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Calanus Glacialis ◽  
Spring Transition ◽  
Amundsen Gulf

Distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments of the Mackenzie Shelf and Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea (Canada)

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 825-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Richerol ◽  
André Rochon ◽  
Steve Blasco ◽  
Dave B. Scott ◽  
Trecia M. Schell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Dinoflagellate Cysts ◽  
Mackenzie Shelf ◽  
Amundsen Gulf

scholarly journals Year-Round Dive Characteristics of Male Beluga Whales From the Eastern Beaufort Sea Population Indicate Seasonal Shifts in Foraging Strategies

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Storrie ◽  
Nigel E. Hussey ◽  
Shannon A. MacPhee ◽  
Greg O’Corry-Crowe ◽  
John Iacozza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Optimal Foraging Theory ◽  
Sampling Interval ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Vertical Movements ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Seasonal Shifts

Dive behavior represents multiple ecological functions for marine mammals, but our understanding of dive characteristics is typically limited by the resolution or longevity of tagging studies. Knowledge on the time-depth structures of dives can provide insight into the behaviors represented by vertical movements; furthering our understanding of the ecological importance of habitats occupied, seasonal shifts in activity, and the energetic consequences of targeting prey at a given depth. Given our incomplete understanding of Eastern Beaufort Sea (EBS) beluga whale behavior over an annual cycle, we aimed to characterize dives made by belugas, with a focus on analyzing shifts in foraging strategies. Objectives were to (i) characterize and classify the range of beluga-specific dive types over an annual cycle, (ii) propose dive functions based on optimal foraging theory, physiology, and association with environmental variables, and (iii) identify whether belugas undergo seasonal shifts in the frequency of dives associated with variable foraging strategies. Satellite-linked time-depth-recorders (TDRs) were attached to 13 male belugas from the EBS population in 2018 and 2019, and depth data were collected in time series at a 75 s sampling interval. Tags collected data for between 13 and 357 days, including three tags which collected data across all months. A total of 90,211 dives were identified and characterized by twelve time and depth metrics and classified into eight dive types using a Gaussian mixed modeling and hierarchical clustering analysis approach. Dive structures identify various seasonal behaviors and indicate year-round foraging. Shallower and more frequent diving during winter in the Bering Sea indicate foraging may be energetically cheaper, but less rewarding than deeper diving during summer in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Archipelago, which frequently exceeded the aerobic dive limit previously calculated for this population. Structure, frequency and association with environmental variables supports the use of other dives in recovery, transiting, and navigating through sea ice. The current study provides the first comprehensive description of the year-round dive structures of any beluga population, providing baseline information to allow improved characterization and to monitor how this population may respond to environmental change and increasing anthropogenic stressors.

Variation in the diet of beluga whales in response to changes in prey availability: insights on changes in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Vol 647 ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
ES Choy ◽  
C Giraldo ◽  
B Rosenberg ◽  
JD Roth ◽  
AD Ehrman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Fatty Acid Signature ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Condition Indices

The eastern Beaufort Sea (EBS) beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas population has experienced a 20 yr decline in inferred growth rates of individuals, which is hypothesized to have resulted from changes in prey availability. We used fatty acid signatures and stable isotope ratios to reconstruct the proportional contributions of 14 prey species to the diets of 178 beluga whales from 2011 to 2014. Prey estimates using quantitative fatty acid signature analysis suggest that EBS beluga whales primarily consume Arctic cod Boreogadus saida, a species highly sensitive to climate change. Prey estimates varied with year and sex and size class of the whales, with large males consuming the highest proportions of Arctic cod, and females consuming the highest proportions of capelin Mallotus villosus. Estimated proportional contributions of Arctic cod to beluga diet decreased from 2011 to 2014, coinciding with an increase in capelin. Belugas consumed the highest proportions of capelin and the lowest proportions of cod in 2014, the same year in which body condition indices were lowest in the whales. We hypothesize that changing conditions in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem may result in a decreased consumption of Arctic cod by belugas and increased consumption of capelin, which may result in a decline in condition. This may predominately affect females and juveniles since they consume the highest proportions of capelin; however, long-term monitoring is needed for confirmation. Understanding inter-annual variation in prey, and the longer-term nutritional implications of shifting from an Arctic cod- to a capelin-dominated diet should be a priority for monitoring EBS predators.

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