Variability in the Foraging Patterns of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Canadian High Arctic and Foxe Basin

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dc.contributor.advisorThiemann, Gregory
dc.contributor.advisorCanadian Arcticen_US
dc.creatorGalicia, Melissa Paula
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-26T14:29:37Z
dc.date.available2015-01-26T14:29:37Z
dc.date.copyright2014-06-19
dc.date.issued2015-01-26
dc.date.updated2015-01-26T14:29:37Z
dc.degree.disciplineBiology
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractOngoing climate warming is projected to cause further declines in sea ice across the Arctic; as a result the foraging ecology of marine species will change. This thesis aimed to investigate the ecological patterns associated with polar bear diet selection. I characterized polar bear diet in the High Arctic, an area that supports a high density of bears and Foxe Basin, a subpopulation that has remained stable despite shifts in sea ice habitat. I used adipose tissue samples and quantitative fatty acid signature analysis to quantify diet composition. Lipid content was used as an indicator of body condition and decreased from fall to spring in bears when prey are less available. Diet estimates revealed spatial differences in polar bear foraging and identified the importance of locally and seasonally abundant prey. The ability of some individuals to alternate between prey species may help mitigate the effects of a declining sea ice habitat.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/28203
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subjectConservation biology
dc.subject.keywordsWalrusen_US
dc.subject.keywordsHigh Arcticen_US
dc.subject.keywordsFoxe Basinen_US
dc.subject.keywordsMarine food weben_US
dc.subject.keywordsFeeding ecologyen_US
dc.subject.keywordsDieten_US
dc.subject.keywordsClimate changeen_US
dc.subject.keywordsQuantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA)en_US
dc.subject.keywordsMarine mammalsen_US
dc.subject.keywordsPolar bearsen_US
dc.subject.keywordsUrsus maritimusen_US
dc.subject.keywordsSealsen_US
dc.subject.keywordsWhalesen_US
dc.titleVariability in the Foraging Patterns of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in the Canadian High Arctic and Foxe Basin
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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