Download or read book Distribution and Movements of Beluga Whales from the Eastern Chukchi Sea Stock During Summer and Early Autumn written by Robert Suydam and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-06-26 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report includes data from two efforts to satellite tag beluga whales. The first was conducted by the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC) through NOAA grant NA67FX0197, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Village of Point Lay. This was the first time belugas in Alaska were instrumented with satellite tags. Ten belugas were tagged in 1998-1999. The second took place in 2000-2002. It was initiated by the ABWC and further supported by Minerals Management Service (MMS) through the Coastal Marine Institute. Other cooperators included NMFS, ADF&G, the NSB, the Village of Point Lay, and Alaska Marine Ecosystems Research.

Download or read book Distribution and Movements of Beluga Whales from the Eastern Chukchi Sea Stock During Summer and Early Autumn written by Robert Scott Suydam and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Sale 193 and the Seismic Surveying Activities in the Chukchi Sea written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea Alaska Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas Oil and Gas Lease Sales 209 212 217 and 221 written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Beluga Whale Distribution Migration and Behavior in a Changing Pacific Arctic written by Donna D. W. Hauser and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sea ice is disappearing at unprecedented rates in the Pacific Arctic with potential impacts to ice-associated marine predators that migrate to this seasonally accessible and productive ecosystem. In this dissertation I used satellite telemetry data spanning 1993-2012 collected from two migratory populations of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the Pacific Arctic (i.e., Eastern Chukchi Sea and Eastern Beaufort Sea populations) to investigate how loss of sea ice and changes in other environmental factors affect distribution, movement, and behavior. I quantified fidelity to summer areas, sexual segregation, and migration timing as well as variations in diving behavior among regions. These analyses illustrate that population-scale patterns of philopatry, migration, and foraging are mediated by the combined effects of seasonal sea ice and oceanographic fluctuations, prey distribution, and social interactions. I also addressed the question of whether belugas would adjust their distribution, migration, and behavior to shifting sea ice conditions and to what extent matrilineally-learned behavior might supersede environmental forcing through the development of resource selection functions. Results indicate that sea ice is a contributing factor but not sole determinant of beluga habitat preferences. One population (Eastern Chukchi Sea) exhibits delayed fall migration in response to later sea ice freeze-up. Changing environmental conditions also seem to favor deeper, longer dives for this population. There were few overall differences in preferred habitat selection during 1990-2014, and summer distribution appears to be governed by philopatry rather than ice conditions. These results correspond to a conclusion that Eastern Chukchi Sea belugas are responding to a changing Pacific Arctic environment through behavioral plasticity in migration timing and foraging behavior. In contrast, there were few examples where migration timing or sea ice associations of Eastern Beaufort Sea belugas changed between the 1990s and 2000s. Taken as a whole, these results suggest population-specific responses by belugas in the face of fluctuating sea ice conditions. Across the circumpolar Arctic, some beluga populations may be more likely than others to adapt and persist in a changing climate.

Download or read book Responding to Oil Spills in the U S Arctic Marine Environment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-08-01 with total page 343 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. Arctic waters north of the Bering Strait and west of the Canadian border encompass a vast area that is usually ice covered for much of the year, but is increasingly experiencing longer periods and larger areas of open water due to climate change. Sparsely inhabited with a wide variety of ecosystems found nowhere else, this region is vulnerable to damage from human activities. As oil and gas, shipping, and tourism activities increase, the possibilities of an oil spill also increase. How can we best prepare to respond to such an event in this challenging environment? Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment reviews the current state of the science regarding oil spill response and environmental assessment in the Arctic region north of the Bering Strait, with emphasis on the potential impacts in U.S. waters. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the Arctic and makes recommendations to provide an effective response effort in these challenging conditions. According to Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, a full range of proven oil spill response technologies is needed in order to minimize the impacts on people and sensitive ecosystems. This report identifies key oil spill research priorities, critical data and monitoring needs, mitigation strategies, and important operational and logistical issues. The Arctic acts as an integrating, regulating, and mediating component of the physical, atmospheric and cryospheric systems that govern life on Earth. Not only does the Arctic serve as regulator of many of the Earth's large-scale systems and processes, but it is also an area where choices made have substantial impact on life and choices everywhere on planet Earth. This report's recommendations will assist environmentalists, industry, state and local policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of this special region to preserve and protect it from damaging oil spills.

Download or read book Northeast National Petroleum Reserve Amended Integrated Activity Plan written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 630 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Northwest National Petroleum Reserve Alaska written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Study of Summer and Fall Movements and Dive Behaviour of Beaufort Sea Belugas Using Satellite Telemetry 1992 1995 written by P. R. Richard and published by Environmental Studies Research Funds. This book was released on 1997 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Seismic Surveys in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Age Growth Reproduction and Movements of Beluga Whales Delphinapterus Leucas from the Eastern Chukchi Sea written by Robert Scott Suydam and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Distribution Abundance and Behavior of Endangered Whales in the Alaskan Chukchi and Western Beaufort Seas 1991 with a Review 1982 91 written by Sue E. Moore and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Movements of Beluga Tagged at the Nastapoka River written by D. W. Doidge and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) occupy Hudson Bay in summer where they are an important source of country-food for the Inuit. Two stocks have been identified; the western stock is estimated to contain at least 23,000 animals, approximately 15 times larger than the eastern stock (Richard et al 1990). The two stocks are genetically distinct (Brown et al 1997). The eastern stock has been designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as threatened and a quota system has been applied to the Inuit subsistence harvest on the northern Quebec coast. The western stock has no quota since harvest levels are lower than the estimated sustainable yield. Aerial surveys in 1985 (Smith and Hammill 1986) and 1993 (DFO unpublished) indicate the summer distribution of beluga whales extends between the Quebec coast (Nunavik) and Sanikiluaq (Belcher Islands). Also, satellite tags, which transmitted for a short time in 1993, showed one whale, tagged at the Little Whale River on the Quebec coast, frequented areas offshore as far as the Belchers. These data would indicate a common stock between Nunavik and Sanikiluaq. However, genetic analysis indicates whales harvested in Sanikiluaq are more similar genetically to western Hudson beluga than those caught along the eastern Hudson Bay coast, just 100 km distant. The conflicting scientific information (genetic make-up vs distribution data) has led some Nunavik Inuit to question the scientific validity of the existing co-management regime and quota system. The number of satellite tags deployed in 1993 (DFO unpublished data) has not been sufficient to clearly resolve the movements of whales that frequent the Quebec coast. The hunters' association of the Nunavik Inuit (HFTA) requested that the issue of stock identity be resolved. A resolution supporting the satellite tagging project was passed at the HFTA's annual general meeting in 1998. With support from World Wildlife Fund Canada, Fisheries and Oceans and Makivik Corporation, three satellite tags were deployed on belugas at the Nastapoka River in 1999. ... In August, the tagged animals frequented the offshore between the mainland coast and the Belcher Islands, an area indicated to be the summer distribution of belugas previously by aerial surveys. While the single, gray animal ventured to the Belcher Islands, the time spent in that vicinity accounted for a small proportion of the time it was tracked (ca. 8%). The two adults with calves did not venture as far to the west. The sample size of tagged animals is too small to estimate the probability of animals that occupy the Nastapoka being caught at the Belchers. However, analysis of the DNA of belugas harvested at the Belchers indicates that the number having the eastern Hudson Bay haplotype is low. The degree of site-tenacity and estuarine use appears to be variable. Other studies demonstrate that belugas will return to the locality of tagging (Orr et al 1998, DFO unpublished data). However, the three whales tagged by us, did not appear to re-enter Nastapoka Estuary. Radio transmitters are becoming more dependable enabling data to be gathered over a longer period of time. Two tags transmitted long enough to indicate that whales remain in the Hudson Bay Area until early October. The start of a northward migration, presumably to over-wintering grounds in Hudson Strait, was documented for one whale until its transmitter sopped signaling near Puvirnituq in late October. A large quantity of data has been received from these satellite tags. The inshore areas of beluga habitat, such as estuaries, are well documented from traditional knowledge and scientific studies. The data from satellite tagged whales show areas, offshore of the Nastapoka Islands, where the whales have remained for several days. The bathymetry of these locations will be examined in relation to the whales' diving activities to better understand habitat-use of beluga whales in eastern Hudson Bay. This analysis is scheduled for Winter 2000-01. The method of using surgical pins to attach the transmitter to the whale's back remains invasive, but no alternative has yet been found. The number of whales tagged has been kept to a minimum. A thorough review of the dive data will determine if a realistic correction factor to account for submerged whales, not counted during aerial surveys can be estimated, or whether further tagging is needed"--ASTIS [online] database.

Download or read book Proposed Diapir Field lease offering June 1984 written by United States. Minerals Management Service. Alaska OCS Region and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Report of the Commission International Whaling Commission written by International Whaling Commission and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 584 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Federal Register written by and published by . This book was released on 2013-05 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: