See also:

Ringed Seal Abundance
 

Sea Ice Extent
 

Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op

What is happening?

• The estimate of polar bear numbers between 2001 and 2006 in the southern Beaufort Sea area is 1,600 bears. The average harvest of bears during this five-year period was 58 animals.
• The recent estimate shows a decrease from 1991-1996 numbers but scientists are careful to note that there is an element of chance in both estimates and the difference may not be significant (statistically).
• About 6-7% of the world's polar bear population is found in the southern Beaufort Sea area.

Why is it happening?

• Scientists studying polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea say the population deserves increased attention for several reasons. They have recorded declines in cub survival rates and changes in both behaviour and body condition suggest bears may be stressed for food. For example there have been reports of cannibalism and bears digging through solid ice to find seals.

Why is it important?

• Polar bears are an important top predator in the marine ecosystem and have many links to other parts of the food web. Changes in the ocean's productivity that may be caused by natural changes in physical factors may lead to readjustments throughout the marine ecosystem. For example, polar bear populations are thought to be closely tied to changes in ringed seal reproduction.
• Polar bears and their prey depend on sea ice to support their hunting behaviour and climate change is thought to be the most important threat to polar bear conservation. Bears may be affected by decreases in the extent of ice cover as well as the seasonal availability during summer and fall.
• Predators, like polar bears, who eat at the end of food chains are also vulnerable to the effects of contaminants that they may acquire through their diet.

Technical Notes

• The information on population status was obtained from the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group web site.
• Some of the information on conservation threats was taken from the Final Report of the Meeting of the Parties to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears held in Tromsø, Norway in March 2009.
• The international range of the Arctic has been divided into 19 regions where polar bear "subpopulations" are managed. The Southern Beaufort area extends from Icy Cape, Alaska, to Pierce Point, NWT. Managers are discussing the possibility of adjusting the boundaries of the Southern Beaufort region to better fit the actual movement pattern of bears in this area.