Polar Bear Ecology in the Eeyou Marine Region
RESEARCH LEAD: Alexandra Langwieder (McGill University), Murray Humphries (McGill University)
DURATION: 2021-2023
AMOUNT AWARDED: $26,510 (2021-2022)
In the document “Eeyou Istchee Coastal Community Voices on Wildlife Research Priorities for the Eeyou Marine Region”, communities identified interest in expanding polar bear research in the EMR. Polar bears are important predators in arctic and sub-arctic systems and their population structure and distribution across the landscape can have impacts on other species and human communities. Globally, polar bears are threatened by reduced sea ice habitat and increased fasting periods associated with climate change. As the most southerly polar bear population in the world, Southern Hudson Bay polar bears are particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures and sea ice losses because of their location. Previous studies of the bears in the Southern Hudson Bay management unit have focused on polar bear movement on the sea ice, population abundance, and body condition related to sea ice decline, but these studies have largely excluded bears within James Bay. Due to this exclusion, little is known about polar bear ecology in James Bay.
Recent evidence suggests that James Bay polar bears may be genetically distinct from the Southern Hudson Bay polar bears and demonstrate unique behaviours. In one study, polar bears captured on Akimiski Island showed significantly different movement patterns than bears captured on the Ontario Hudson Bay coast, remaining almost entirely within James Bay compared to the far-ranging movements of bears captured on the Ontario Hudson Bay coast. Understanding James Bay polar bear ecology and their possible distinction from the Southern Hudson Bay management unit is important for making appropriate polar bear management decisions in James Bay and the EMR.
Our objectives are to:
1) Jointly establish polar bear monitoring with the EMRWB and regional CTA using non-invasive methods
2) Answer questions about the James Bay polar bear diet, habitat use, and body condition with Cree Knowledge and field techniques (hair snares, camera traps and aerial surveys) 3) Determine the genetic distinction of James Bay bears from the Southern Hudson Bay subpopulation
We hypothesize that the polar bears in James Bay are genetically distinct from Southern Hudson Bay polar bears because of geographic separation during the spring breeding season. We predict that James Bay polar bears remain within James Bay throughout the year and that hair samples will show feeding behaviour associated with James Bay rather than Hudson Bay.
For more information about this project download our project summary document here.
RESULTS:
During the summer 2021 field season, the polar bear field crew deployed 37 hair snags and camera traps. From those traps, there were 138 polar bear detections, found mostly on offshore islands. So far, 13 different polar bears have been identified by distinct facial features (scars, missing chunks from ears, etc.) or because they were mothers with different aged cubs. Genetic analysis of the hair samples will lead to the identification of more individuals.
Of the bears caught on camera, 88 were fully visible. This allowed Alex to determine their body condition. Of those identified, 54 bears were considered average, 31 were fat, and 3 were thin. In addition to polar bear sightings, the camera traps also observed many other types of wildlife including black bear, caribou, and waterfowl
UPCOMING WORK:
Alex will be returning to the EMR during the summer of 2022 to deploy more hair snags and camera traps. Additionally, she will be undertaking a series of Traditional Ecological Knowledge interviews in each of the coastal communities to better understand the seasonal patters, diet, and behaviour of the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear population.
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