(Tables 1,2) Tracking records and space use statistics of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Storfjorden, Svalbard ...

• Main Authors: Freitas, Carla, Kovacs, Kit Maureen, Andersen, Magnus, Aars, Jon, Sandven, Stein, Skern-Mauritzen, Mette, Pavlova, Olga, Lydersen, Christian
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2010
• Subjects: Identification; Status; Comment; Sampling date; DATE/TIME; Method comment; Ursus maritimus, home range; Distance; Duration, number of days; Number of observations; Percentage; Radius; Number; Biological sample; Calculated from GPS; International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY; Arctic; Svalbard; Norway; Lone; glacier; International Polar Year; IPY; Sea ice; Storfjorden; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.809534; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.809534

Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly, making it vital to understand the importance of different types of sea ice for ice-dependent species such as polar bears Ursus maritimus. In this study we used GPS telemetry (25 polar bear tracks obtained in Svalbard, Norway, during spring) and high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sea-ice data to investigate fine-scale space use by female polar bears. Space use patterns differed according to reproductive state; females with cubs of the year (COYs) had smaller home ranges and used fast-ice areas more frequently than lone females. First-passage time (FPT) analysis revealed that females with COYs displayed significantly longer FPTs near (<10 km) glacier fronts than in other fast-ice areas; lone females also increased their FPTs in such areas, but they also frequently used drifting pack ice. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of fast-ice areas, in particular close to glacier fronts, especially for females with COYs. Access to abundant and ... : Home range was measured as km**2 per 9 d period. DATE/TIME is the month when the bear was tracked. Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150 ...