Implications of rapid environmental change for polar bear behavior and sociality
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Abstract
Historically, the Arctic sea ice has functioned as a structural barrier that has limited the nature and extent of interactions between humans and polar bears (Ursus maritimus). However, declining sea ice extent, brought about by global climate change, is increasing the potential for human-polar bear interactions. Loss of sea ice habitat is driving changes to both human and polar bear behavior—it is facilitating increases in human activities (e.g., offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction, trans-Arctic shipping, recreation), while also causing the displacement of bears from preferred foraging habitat (i.e., sea ice over biologically productive shallow) to land in some portions of their range. The end result of these changes is that polar bears are spending greater amounts of time in close proximity to people. Coexistence between humans and polar bears will require imposing mechanisms to manage further development, as well as mitigation strategies that reduce the burden to local communities.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Implications of rapid environmental change for polar bear behavior and sociality |
| DOI | 10.1007/978-3-319-46994-2_24 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Year Published | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center Biology MFEB |
| Description | 18 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Monograph |
| Larger Work Title | Marine mammal welfare |
| First page | 445 |
| Last page | 462 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |