Climate change consequences for an Arctic apex predator: polar bears as ecological indicators

气候变化对北极顶级捕食者的影响：北极熊作为生态指标

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04270
• 负责人: Derocher, Andrew
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714749
• 关键词: Climate; change; consequences; Arctic; apex

Ice-covered Arctic marine ecosystems are undergoing rapid ecological change as the climate warms. The effects are notable in sea ice characteristics, primary productivity, and ecosystem structure that affect polar bears (Ursus maritimus) which are a sea ice obligate species. The main working hypothesis of this proposal is that changes in the ecology and biomarkers of polar bears are associated with shifts in ecosystem structure and phenology caused by warming induced alteration of sea ice habitat. The objectives are to develop new monitoring metrics, document the consequences of climate change on polar bears, predict future changes, and examine the ecological interactions of polar bears with prey and scavengers. Objectives include identification of the mechanisms associated with polar bear population change over time to predict the effects of global warming. Long-term sampling in the key research populations (i.e., Beaufort Sea, Western Hudson Bay) allows investigation of the spatial dynamics, habitat use, and population dynamics in relation to changing environmental conditions. Over the next five years, my research group will examine: the spatial ecology and habitat use of polar bears using remote sensing to assess habitat use relationships with life history parameters, develop interdisciplinary means of assessing life history events and stress from microanalysis of tissues, use integrated life history and energetics modelling to explore the future status of polar bears, and examine the predator-prey dynamics of polar bears and the role of the bears as a keystone predator. Methods include: satellite telemetry, remote sensing, biomarkers, ecosystem dynamics, mathematical modelling, and remote cameras. The focus of the project is to integrate methods to obtain greater insight than possible from a single technique. Partnerships with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Fisheries and Oceans increase efficiency and samples sizes. Species responses to global warming are of fundamental interest to ecologists and managers yet the mechanisms of change and predictions for such changes are poorly understood. A mechanistic understanding of the processes that result in both individual and population response is necessary for predicting future conditions for a species. Integration of methods will provide novel insights. As a flagship species of climate change, polar bears have great local, national, and international interest.

随着气候变暖，冰雪覆盖的北极海洋生态系统正在经历快速的生态变化。这些影响在海冰特征、初级生产力和生态系统结构方面非常显着，对北极熊（Ursus maritimus）产生了显着影响，北极熊是海冰专性物种。该提案的主要工作假设是，北极熊的生态和生物标志物的变化与变暖引起的海冰栖息地变化引起的生态系统结构和物候变化有关。目标是开发新的监测指标，记录气候变化对北极熊的影响，预测未来的变化，并检查北极熊与猎物和食腐动物的生态相互作用。目标包括确定与北极熊种群随时间变化相关的机制，以预测全球变暖的影响。对关键研究种群（即波弗特海、西哈德逊湾）的长期采样可以调查与环境条件变化相关的空间动态、栖息地利用和种群动态。在接下来的五年中，我的研究小组将研究：北极熊的空间生态和栖息地利用，利用遥感评估栖息地利用与生活史参数的关系，开发跨学科方法来评估生活史事件和组织微分析的压力，利用综合生活史和能量学建模来探索北极熊的未来地位，并研究北极熊的捕食者-猎物动态以及北极熊作为主要捕食者的作用。方法包括：卫星遥测、遥感、生物标记、生态系统动力学、数学建模和远程摄像头。该项目的重点是整合方法，以获得比单一技术更深入的洞察力。与加拿大环境和气候变化部以及渔业和海洋部的合作伙伴关系提高了效率和样本量。物种对全球变暖的反应是生态学家和管理者的根本利益所在，但人们对变化的机制和对这种变化的预测知之甚少。对导致个体和群体反应的过程的机械理解对于预测一个物种的未来状况是必要的。方法的整合将提供新颖的见解。作为气候变化的旗舰物种，北极熊在当地、国家和国际上都具有重大意义。