Background and Significance
Due to previous work, it is estimated that there exist 19 separate populations of polar bears. Of these 19, two exist in Alaska, one named the Southern Beaufort Sea population, and the other known as the Chukchi Sea population. Along the northern coast of Alaska, from approximately 137°W to 167°W members of the Southern Beaufort Sea population can be found (Fischbach et al., 2007). During recent years, the Southern Beaufort Sea population of polar bears has been seen migrating southward. Because polar bear movements are often driven by the movements of ice, the den locations of females in the Southern Beaufort Sea population have been encroaching on cities such as Alpine and Nuiqsut (Larsen, 1985).
After feeding …show more content…
This is especially important for the SOUTHERN BEAUFORT SEA population, since the members of this population are already declining (Amstrup and Gardner, 1994).
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study, is to examine the changing denning patterns and habits of maternal polar bears, and attempt to identify the causes for these changes. Specifically, this study will look at:
• The chance that a pre-existing den will be utilized by a pregnant polar bear.
• The pre-existing dens that were not utilized in an attempt to determine a reason as to why these dens were unsuitable.
• The placement of new dens, and attempt to analyze the locations in hopes of recognizing a pattern. …show more content…
Due to polar bears denning from October to April, the study will occur from the month of August through the month of January. During the first two months of the survey, researchers will go out and, using Vortex Diamondback 8x28 binoculars, locate existing dens. During October and December researchers, armed with an IM Rifle tranquilizer gun and darts for protection, will go out and examine the previously found dens for the presence of polar bears. After all of the dens have been reexamined, researchers will go back out and look for new dens that have been created that winter. All den location GPS coordinates will be noted when located, and dens will be marked, then captured on film using a Nikon D3400 camera, to aid in consistency. Dens will be classified as either a new den or an old one, depending on year of creation. The locations of all new dens will then be examined against the locations of all old dens that are still in use with an analysis of variance test (ANOVA). Another ANOVA test will also be run against old dens in use versus old dens that have been
Due to previous work, it is estimated that there exist 19 separate populations of polar bears. Of these 19, two exist in Alaska, one named the Southern Beaufort Sea population, and the other known as the Chukchi Sea population. Along the northern coast of Alaska, from approximately 137°W to 167°W members of the Southern Beaufort Sea population can be found (Fischbach et al., 2007). During recent years, the Southern Beaufort Sea population of polar bears has been seen migrating southward. Because polar bear movements are often driven by the movements of ice, the den locations of females in the Southern Beaufort Sea population have been encroaching on cities such as Alpine and Nuiqsut (Larsen, 1985).
After feeding …show more content…
This is especially important for the SOUTHERN BEAUFORT SEA population, since the members of this population are already declining (Amstrup and Gardner, 1994).
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study, is to examine the changing denning patterns and habits of maternal polar bears, and attempt to identify the causes for these changes. Specifically, this study will look at:
• The chance that a pre-existing den will be utilized by a pregnant polar bear.
• The pre-existing dens that were not utilized in an attempt to determine a reason as to why these dens were unsuitable.
• The placement of new dens, and attempt to analyze the locations in hopes of recognizing a pattern. …show more content…
Due to polar bears denning from October to April, the study will occur from the month of August through the month of January. During the first two months of the survey, researchers will go out and, using Vortex Diamondback 8x28 binoculars, locate existing dens. During October and December researchers, armed with an IM Rifle tranquilizer gun and darts for protection, will go out and examine the previously found dens for the presence of polar bears. After all of the dens have been reexamined, researchers will go back out and look for new dens that have been created that winter. All den location GPS coordinates will be noted when located, and dens will be marked, then captured on film using a Nikon D3400 camera, to aid in consistency. Dens will be classified as either a new den or an old one, depending on year of creation. The locations of all new dens will then be examined against the locations of all old dens that are still in use with an analysis of variance test (ANOVA). Another ANOVA test will also be run against old dens in use versus old dens that have been