Factors influencing local abundance and haulout behaviour of ringed seals ( Phoca hispida ) on landfast ice of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Moulton, Valerie D, Richardson, W John, McDonald, Trent L, Elliott, Robert E, Williams, Michael T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2002
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Beaufort Sea; Phoca hispida; ringed seal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-173; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z02-173

This study investigates how the local abundance of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) on landfast ice of the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea is related to habitat factors and how the haulout behaviour of seals is influenced by temporal and weather factors. An understanding of these relationships is required before the potential impacts of industrial activity on ringed seals can be assessed. Intensive and replicated aerial surveys employing strip transect methodology were conducted during the springs of 1997–1999. Data were examined with χ 2 tests and Poisson regression. The overall observed densities of ringed seals over water depths >3 m was 0.43, 0.39, and 0.63 seals/km 2 in 1997–1999, respectively. Significantly more seals occurred over intermediate water depths, especially 10–20 m. In all years, seals were widely distributed on the landfast ice, but during breakup, higher numbers of seals occurred near the ice edge. Densities were significantly lower in areas with high ice deformation and extensive melt water. There was no consistent relationship between seal sightings and time of day within the 10:00–18:00 period with surveys. The peak period of haulout occurred around 1 and 2 June. Significantly more ringed seals were observed on warm, cloudy days. There was no indication that limited winter industrial activity, including ice roads and Vibroseis, occurring within the study area in 1997–1999 significantly affected ringed seal density in spring.