Increasing our understanding of climate change impacts on a keystone species in the Arctic: the hooded seal

Ice seals are considered bio-indicators of the Arctic ecosystem health, yet little is known about how they have responded both horizontally and vertically to seasonal and annual changes in the Arctic ecosystem. As the Arctic continues to lose ice, this study examines future consequences of these ecosystem changes on the Arctic hooded seals. This study combines biologging-derived behavioural and movement data, environmental data, and simulation modelling to 1) characterize foraging behaviours of hooded seals using tri-dimensional movement data, their relation to foraging efficiency, and to their habitat characteristics; 2) assess changes in foraging efficiencies through time-series data and their links to population trajectory; 3) build models that predict the future vertical distribution of the Arctic hooded seal. We will infer mechanistic links between hooded seal’s foraging ecology and their physical environment, and better understand the impacts of environmental changes on individuals and populations from forecasts of climate induced habitat shifts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ruth Joy

Student:

Partner:

Université de La Rochelle

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: