Barents Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus): population biology and anthropogenic threats

Polar research

Magnus Andersen¹ 

[1] Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, PO Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø, NorwayCorrespondence

关键词: Top predator;    environmental threats;    climate warming;    contamination;    disturbance;    habitat change.;   

DOI  :  10.3402/polar.v35.26029

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

This paper examines how anthropogenic threats, such as disturbance, pollution and climate change, are linked to polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population biology in the Svalbard and Barents Sea area, with the aim to increase our understanding of how human activity may impact the population. Overharvesting drastically reduced the population of polar bears in the Barents Sea region from about 1870 to 1970. After harvesting was stopped—in 1956 in Russia and 1973 in Norway—the population grew to an estimated 2650 individuals (95% confidence interval 1900–3600) in 2004, and maternity denning in the Svalbard Archipelago became more widely distributed. During recent decades, the population has faced challenges from a variety of new anthropogenic impacts: a range of pollutants, an increasing level of human presence and activity as well as changes in ice conditions. Contaminants bioaccumulate up through the marine food web, culminating in this top predator that consumes ringed, bearded and harp seals. Females with s...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC