The Distribution and Abundance of Seals in the Canadian High Arctic, 1980–82

Surveys of hauled-out ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) were flown in 1980 and 1981 over Jones Sound, the Sverdrup Basin, the channels between the Parry Islands, the Parry Channel, Prince of Wales Strait, and northern Amundsen Gulf. Part of the survey was flown aga...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Main Authors: Kingsley, M. C. S., Stirling, I., Calvert, W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1985
Subjects:
Aquatic Science
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Arctic
Parry
Rotten
Barrow Strait
Jones Sound
Wellington Channel
Prince of Wales Strait
Amundsen Gulf
Erignathus barbatus
Parry Channel
Phoca hispida
sverdrup basin
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f85-147
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f85-147
Description
Summary:Surveys of hauled-out ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) were flown in 1980 and 1981 over Jones Sound, the Sverdrup Basin, the channels between the Parry Islands, the Parry Channel, Prince of Wales Strait, and northern Amundsen Gulf. Part of the survey was flown again in 1982. Ringed seals were most numerous in Barrow Strait and Wellington Channel, their density decreasing westward and northward. Their preferred habitat was annual ice, fast or cracking, of high cover; they avoided deep water. Bearded seals were seen in low numbers in early-opening areas, preferring floe or rotten ice of moderate or low cover over shallow water.

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