Research Project: Fine-scale
analysis of population structure of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and their movements within
Hudson Bay

 

Figure 1. Arctic sun bridge, Gulf of
Boothia.

Figure 2. Global subpopulations of polar bears, IUCN Polar bear Specialist Group (2006)

 

Figure 3. Churchill, MB fall field season 2013.
 
The polar bear population is estimated to be 20,000-25,000,
and is divided into 19 subpopulations (Figure 2). These are based on tag
returns from harvested animals, capture-recapture and data from radio and
satellite telemetry studies. Contrary to these depicted boundaries, polar bears
are known for their ability to travel great distances and to have variable home
ranges at magnitudes of 964,264 km2. Whether this ability translates
into genetic admixture of polar bears is but one component of my study.  
The Hudson Bay complex of subpopulations is my focal
population and consists of Western Hudson Bay (WH), Southern Hudson Bay (SH),
Foxe Basin (FB), and Davis Strait (DS). This complex contains approximately 5000
bears with WH and SH subpopulations at the southern edge of the Canadian polar bear
range. This project is centered on determining the presence of population
structure at a finer level than previously explored.
To address this objective I seek to answer the following
questions:
1.     What level of genetic structure can be detected
using genetic markers?
2.     How does movement during the breeding season
inform population structure?
The first question involves the single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs). This high resolution genetic
marker has the ability to detect the presence of population differentiation to
a greater degree.
The second question takes advantage of radio collar data
collected for WH, SH, and FB and relates where females are located during the
breeding season to their genetic profile.
This project will resolve the genetic state of this complex
of subpopulations and provide insight on how movement on ice during the
breeding season influences population differentiation. Overall this project
aims to integrate techniques in order to better understand the interaction
genetically and ecologically in this population.
Previous Work
I graduated from Queen’s University in 2011 with a Bachelor
of Science (Honours). During my senior year I
contributed to project examining the use of non-invasive sampling of polar
bears in the M’Clintock Channel.  Post-graduation I took a gap year to
gain experience in the field. During this time I worked as a field research
assistant in Nunavut with Queen’s University, volunteered at the Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill with the University
of Toronto, interned at the marine mammal research unit of a non-profit
organization on Maui, Hawaii and volunteered on the R/V Melville research ship with
Scripps Institute of Oceanography and University of California San Diego before
arriving in Edmonton, Alberta to begin my Master’s program. Contact
Michelle Viengkone
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T6G 2E9
Phone: (780) 492-8368
Email: viengkon@ualberta.ca
Supervisors
Andrew Derocher
Corey Davis