Evaluating the extent and drivers of dietary specialization in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) across Western Hudson Bay

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dc.contributor.advisorThiemann, Gregory
dc.contributor.authorKing, Kiersten Christina Kelva
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-18T18:03:13Z
dc.date.available2024-03-18T18:03:13Z
dc.date.issued2024-03-16
dc.date.updated2024-03-16T10:41:29Z
dc.degree.disciplineBiology
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractClimate warming has caused significant reductions in the extent of annual sea ice. As an ice-dependent species, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) relies on the ice to hunt, making it susceptible to large-scale changes in sea ice and prey availability. My thesis sought to investigate individual-level foraging habits of polar bears in Western Hudson Bay from 2004-2021. I used fatty acid analyses and the proportional similarity index to investigate the extent and drivers of individual dietary specialization and interindividual differences in foraging habits. My results indicated a significant proportion of specialization, with the degree of specialization differing across age and sex classes. Annual snow depth and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) were strong predictors of specialization, resulting in increased specialization with increasing snow depth and NAO. Continued monitoring efforts are necessary to ensure interindividual variation in foraging is considered when modelling the responses of polar bears to future climatic warming.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/41907
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subjectZoology
dc.subjectConservation biology
dc.subject.keywordsArctic ecology
dc.subject.keywordsPolar bear
dc.subject.keywordsUrsus maritimus
dc.subject.keywordsIndividual specialization
dc.subject.keywordsDietary specialization
dc.subject.keywordsForaging ecology
dc.subject.keywordsHudson Bay
dc.subject.keywordsWestern Hudson Bay
dc.subject.keywordsManitoba
dc.subject.keywordsFatty acid
dc.subject.keywordsQuantitative fatty acid signature analysis
dc.subject.keywordsQFASA
dc.subject.keywordsDiet composition
dc.subject.keywordsProportional similarity index
dc.subject.keywordsPSi
dc.subject.keywordsDietary change index
dc.subject.keywordsDCI
dc.subject.keywordsDietary niche breadth
dc.subject.keywordsSea ice
dc.subject.keywordsSnow depth
dc.subject.keywordsArctic Oscillation
dc.subject.keywordsNorth Atlantic Oscillation
dc.subject.keywordsRinged seal
dc.subject.keywordsBearded seal
dc.subject.keywordsBeluga whale
dc.subject.keywordsWalrus
dc.subject.keywordsHarp seal
dc.subject.keywordsHarbour seal
dc.subject.keywordsSimultaneous estimation
dc.titleEvaluating the extent and drivers of dietary specialization in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) across Western Hudson Bay
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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