The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) : spatial ecology, life history, and population ...
The Pacific walrus inhabits the Bering Sea during winter and the Chukchee Sea in summer, generally in close association with sea ice. The year-round northern limit to this range is marked by the southern edge of the relatively unbroken pack ice which, though not impenetrable, is usually avoided. The...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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University of British Columbia
2012
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0106248 https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0106248 |
| Summary: | The Pacific walrus inhabits the Bering Sea during winter and the Chukchee Sea in summer, generally in close association with sea ice. The year-round northern limit to this range is marked by the southern edge of the relatively unbroken pack ice which, though not impenetrable, is usually avoided. The southern limit appears to be set by air temperatures, regions with monthly means of 50 F or more being unoccupied. Between these two "barriers," the animals frequent waters of less than 50 fathoms depth in which their preferred food, the pelecypods Mya, Saxicava, Astarte, Macoma, and Clinocardium occur. Seasonal migrations between the Bering and Chukchee Seas appear to be partly in response to changing physical conditions and partly due to an innate or learned behaviour pattern. Females are the most regular migrants; males are more subject to the inconsistencies of ice drift. The bull Pacific walrus reaches sexual maturity at six to eight years of age, the cow at four.to five years of age. Breeding takes place ... |
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