Abstract 196 – Assessing the habitat selection and distribution of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in the Last Ice Area using infrared video and aerial imagery

Roxanne D. MacLean, Gregory W. Thiemann, Katie R.N. Florko, Steven H. Ferguson,
Kelsey F. Johnson, Christine Michel, David J. Yurkowski

The Arctic climate is warming roughly four times faster than the global average, causing a rapid
decline in the thickness and duration of sea ice. For ice-dependent species like the polar bear
(Ursus maritimus), the availability of suitable sea ice habitat is vital for important life processes
including movement and hunting of their preferred prey. Ecological studies of polar bears and
their prey in the Last Ice Area are limited due to the remote location, making it logistically
challenging to carry out traditional telemetry studies. The objective of this research was to
quantify the habitat use of polar bears and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and model their
distribution in the Last Ice Area. We conducted aerial surveys to collect infrared video and
aerial imagery along transects, and used both remote sensing techniques to detect animals in
infrared video and manual detection of tracks on sea ice in aerial imagery. We quantified the
habitat selection of polar bears and ringed seals using resource selection functions to
determine the relationship between observations and habitat characteristics such as sea ice
cover, concentration, and distance from shore. Species distribution models were used to
predictively model the distribution of polar bears and ringed seals in this region based on the
observed locations and environmental covariates. This research is the first to quantify the
habitat selection and distribution of polar bears and their prey in the Last Ice Area of the
Canadian High Arctic, yielding novel insights into this understudied yet ecologically significant
area of sea ice habitat.