Marine mammal hotspots across the circumpolar Arctic

• DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13543
• Publication Date: 2022-05-12T02:56:11Z
• Authors: Charmain D. Hamilton; Christian Lydersen; Jon Aars; Mario Acquarone; Todd Atwood; Alastair Baylis; Martin Biuw; Andrei N. Boltunov; Erik W. Born; Peter Boveng; Tanya M. Brown; Michael Cameron; John Citta; Justin Crawford; Rune Dietz; Jim Elias; Steven H. Ferguson; Aaron Fisk; Lars P. Folkow; Kathryn J. Frost; Dmitri M. Glazov; Sandra M. Granquist; Rowenna Gryba; Lois Harwood; Tore Haug; Mads Peter Heide‐...; Nigel E. Hussey; Jimmy Kalinek; Kristin L. Laidre; Dennis I. Litovka; Josh M. London; Lisa L. Loseto; Shannon MacPhee; Marianne Marcoux; Cory J. D. Matthews; Kjell Nilssen; Erling S. Nordøy; Greg O’Corry‐Crowe; Nils Øien; Morten Tange Olsen; Lori Quakenbush; Aqqalu Rosing‐Asvid; Varvara Semenova; Kim E. W. Shelden; Olga V. Shpak; Garry Stenson; Luke Storrie; Signe Sveegaard; Jonas Teilmann; Fernando Ugarte; Andrew L. Von Duyke; Cortney Watt; Øystein Wiig; Ryan R. Wilson; David J. Yurkowski; Kit M. Kovacs
• Keywords: Circumpolar star; Marine mammal

Abstract Aim Identify hotspots and areas of high species richness for Arctic marine mammals. Location Circumpolar Arctic. Methods A total 2115 biologging devices were deployed on mammals from 13 in the 2005 to 2019. Getis‐Ord G i * calculated based number individuals grid cells each phylogenetic groups (nine pinnipeds, three cetaceans, all species) with identified summer (Jun‐Nov), winter (Dec‐May) entire year. Seasonal habitat differences among species’ investigated using Principal Component Analysis. Results Hotspots occurred within continental‐shelf seas marginal ice zone, particularly “Arctic gateways” north Atlantic Pacific oceans. Summer generally found further than hotspots, but there exceptions this pattern, including bowhead whales Greenland‐Barents Seas coastal distributions Svalbard, Norway East Greenland. Areas overlapped high‐density hotspots. Large regional seasonal features also different regions. Gap analysis (discrepancy between IUCN ranges) regions where more research is required. Main conclusions This study important (and types) available biotelemetry data. The results herein serve as a benchmark measure future distributional shifts. Expanded monitoring telemetry studies are needed understand impacts climate change concomitant ecosystem changes (synergistic effects multiple stressors). While efforts should be made fill knowledge gaps, gaps complete sex age coverage, can inform management mitigate human activities ecological changes, creation protected areas.