![\"\"](\"uploads\/images\/leadscracks.JPG\")
<\/p>\n Vicki Sahanatien
\nPh.D. Candidate
\nPolar
\nBear Habitat, Sea Icescapes and Climate Change in Foxe Basin, Nunavut
\n
\nPolar
\nbears (Ursus maritimus) in North America are
\ndivided into subpopulations for management purposes. The subpopulation that I
\nam studying is Foxe Basin. The polar bears of Foxe Basin are not well known; the most recent studies
\noccurred in the 1980s. Since that time the only other information collected has
\nbeen hunter harvest (average 97\/year) and defence kill data. The Foxe Basin polar bear population is considered stable and
\nestimated to be 2,300, although inventory data is outdated.
\n
\nPolar bears are predicted to be
\nnegatively affected by climate warming but regional scale quantitative models
\nof the relationships of this species with sea ice habitat are lacking. My
\nprimary research objective is to understand and model how the annual evolution and
\ndynamics of sea ice habitat influences polar bear movements and habitat
\nselection in Foxe Basin. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Polar Bear Sea Ice Habitat
\nI
\nmake extensive use of remote-sensing technology: geographic positioning system satellite
\ncollars for tracking polar bear movements and satellite imagery for mapping past,
\npresent, and projected sea ice habitat. My analyses of historic sea ice data have
\nshown significant temporal changes in polar bear habitat. To evaluate habitat
\nselection, polar bear movement data will be plotted on sea ice maps using
\nresource selection functions. To understand if and how sea ice directs polar
\nbear movements, I will study bear movements in relation to patterns of open
\nwater features, sea ice growth, circulation, and melt.
\n
\nWhile
\nsatellite derived information is central to my research Inuit knowledge
\n(traditional ecological knowledge) of polar bear movements, behaviour and
\nhabitat use will contribute to filling information gaps and will be incorporated
\ninto the ecological interpretations.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"uploads\/images\/AdultFemaleIce.jpg\")
\nFemale polar bear following a lead on the sea ice
\nTo
\nintegrate the study, I will use a spatial explicit individual based modeling to
\nforecast how climate change may affect the integrity of the Foxe
\n Basin polar bear subpopulation. It is anticipated that this model
\nwill have application for other polar bear subpopulation. The study will have
\ndirect application to management strategies for the conservation of polar bears
\nin Nunavut
\nand other jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
\nPersonal
\nHistory<\/p>\n
My background includes many years working with Parks Canada and in a few capacities: park warden, planner, ecologist and manager of resource conservation. Most recently, June 2000 – December 2005, I was based in Iqaluit, Nunavut and was responsible for the ecosystem and cultural resources research and monitoring programs for the Nunavut national parks (Auyuittuq, Sirmilik, Quttinirpaaq and Ukkusiksalik). I supervised an interdisciplinary team and worked closely with many universities and organizations to develop and implement the research and monitoring programs. In my free time I enjoy running, hockey, bird watching, ski touring trips, backpacking traverses and hunting trips. Vicki Sahanatien Ph.D. Candidate Polar Bear Habitat, Sea Icescapes and Climate Change in Foxe Basin, Nunavut Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in North America are divided into subpopulations for management purposes. The subpopulation that I am studying is Foxe Basin. The polar bears of Foxe Basin are not well known; the most recent studies occurred […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":299,"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions\/299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grad.biology.ualberta.ca\/derocher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI obtained my BSc from University of Guelph and MES from York University. In January 2006, I began my Doctoral studies at the University of Alberta.
\nFor More Information contact:
\nVicki Sahanatien, Ph.D. Candidate
\nUniversity of Alberta
\nEdmonton, Alberta
\nCanada, T6G 2E9
\nPhone 780-492-2539
\nFax 780-492-9234
\nEmail: vicki.sahanatien@ualberta.ca <\/a>
\nAndrew E. Derocher
\nCW405 Biological Sciences Centre
\nUniversity of Alberta
\nEdmonton, Alberta
\nCanada, T6G 2E9
\nPhone 780-492-5570
\nFax 780-492-9234
\nEmail: derocher@ualberta.ca <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"