Abstract
AbstractThere is an imminent need to collect information on distribution and abundance of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) to understand how they are affected by the ongoing decrease in Arctic sea ice. The Kane Basin (KB) subpopulation is a group of high-latitude polar bears that ranges between High Arctic Canada and NW Greenland around and north of the North Water polynya (NOW). We conducted a line transect distance sampling aerial survey of KB polar bears during 28 April–12 May 2014. A total of 4160 linear kilometers were flown in a helicopter over fast ice in the fjords and over offshore pack ice between 76° 50′ and 80° N′. Using a mark-recapture distance sampling protocol, the estimated abundance was 190 bears (95% lognormal CI: 87–411; CV 39%). This estimate is likely negatively biased to an unknown degree because the offshore sectors of the NOW with much open water were not surveyed because of logistical and safety reasons. Our study demonstrated that aerial surveys may be a feasible method for obtaining abundance estimates for small subpopulations of polar bears.
Funder
Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington
The Association of Greenland Hunters and Fishermen
Avannaa Resources Inc.
Bureau of Mineral and Petroleum (Nuuk);
Canada Department of National Defense
Danish Civil Aviation Authorities
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Government of Nunavut
Greenland Department of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture
Greenland Department of the Environment
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR);
Iviq Hunters and Trappers Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Nuna Minerals Inc.
Nunavut General Monitoring Program
Nunavut Wildlife Management Board
Polar Continental Shelf Project
Qaanaap Kommunia
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Universal Helicopters
University of Oslo
Vetlesen Foundation
World Wildlife Fund
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
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