Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #70: Population Ecology and Dynamics of Arctic Grizzly Bears in a Changing Environment  (PEDAGRIZ)

Outline
Barren-ground grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in Arctic North America live at the northern edge of the species’ range. The grizzly bear is considered an umbrella species whose status is indicative of a healthy ecosystem. Low reproductive rates, low density, large home ranges and a short active period result in a species with low resilience to disturbance. Grizzly bears are characteristic of regional-scale ecological processes which make them ideal for measuring responses to change. Changes in Arctic ecosystems through human activities and climate change are of concern for the management and conservation of grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are highly adaptive to local conditions. This adaptive behaviour, however, can increase the risk of human-bear conflict and mortality. Grizzly bear reproductive success is negatively influenced by avoidance behaviour resulting from increased energy expenditure and a limited ability to meet their resource needs. Understanding how grizzly bears might be affected by climate warming in the Arctic is also central to reducing the likelihood of population decline. The effects of global warming are amplified in arctic environments and will affect both abiotic and biotic processes with unknown consequences for grizzly bears and the ecosystem upon which they depend. The results of this project will provide the information required by co-management boards to develop protocols for improving grizzly bear management, determining sustainable harvest, and for developing means of reducing human related impacts. The primary goals include the collection or assessment of : •baseline ecological data •home range size and distribution •population size •demographic rates •metapopulation dynamics •trophic dynamics using isotopic and fatty acid methods •predator – prey relationships of grizzly bears with ungulates and small mammals •fine-scale quantification of habitat use and identification of important habitats •movement patterns and juvenile dispersal •assessment of potential disturbance •assessment of mortality risk •population genetics, gene flow, and paternity studies •the impact of climate variability and directional change •the effects of harvest •the effects of development This project will provide data to assess the cummulative impacts of climate change in an area that is undergoing a major period of warming and facing increased human activity. The study area will extend from Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut to Point Barrow, Alaska with core study areas for specific study components. Ultimately, fundamental changes in population structure, reproductive rates, and behaviour are likely to occur within the coming years and this project seeks to understand and quantify these patterns, establish long-term monitoring sites, and propose adaptive management scenarios.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Status: provide a baseline data set on a vulnerable species at the edge of their range in relation to physical environmental parameters Change: understand how changes in the physical environment (e.g., climate change/variability or tree line advance) might influence fitness through alterations in foraging behaviour, dispersal, migration, reproduction, denning period, and survival. Linkages and interaction: document how an omnivore interacts with its Arctic environment, quantify critical linkages in trophic cascade. New frontiers: develop new methods of population monitoring applicable to grizzly bears across the barrens. Human dimension: grizzly bears are a sustainable resource for northern peoples and developing information required to sustain harvest is a fundamental objective of the study. Develop methods to reduce bear/human conflicts.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The partners for this study include grizzly bear researchers Harry Reynolds and Richard Shideler of Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Fairbanks, Alaska). Falk Huettmann, University of Alaska Fairbanks will assist with spatial modelling. In addition, it is proposed to involve Jon Swenson of the Norwegian Agricultural University in Aas, Norway through joint students.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The study proposes examination pf the north slope of North America in occupied barren ground grizzly bear habitat from Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut to Point Barrow, Alaska. The core of the study population will be in the barrens but animals living on the perifery of the boreal forest will be included in the study .

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07-10/07      04/08-10/08      04/09-10/09
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The project will utilise helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, fuel caches, and satellites (ARGOS and remote sensing). These facilities can be usefully shared with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The study will integrate with existing monitoring systems with the intent of developing appropriate methods for cost-effective monitoring of barren ground grizzly bears. Permanent sampling plots to measure the dynamics of key forage species will be developed with the intent of long-term monitoring relative to climate change and development including a monitoring system for arctic ground squirrels (an important food source). A website will provide close to real time information on animal locations and habitats that can be accessed by local people and schools for educational purposes.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Integration with ongoing projects will facilitate some logistic components. In Canada, coordination of effort will be in part through the Polar Continental Shelf Project. The need for coordinated methods will result in substantial exchange of researchers between study sites.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
It is anticipated that the project will receive a broad base of endorsement from a variety of governmental, indigenous management organizations, industry, and NGOs. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems Terrestrial Processes

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
YES

There are several ongoing grizzly bear projects along the north slope that involve many of the project components being proposed in this umbrella study. The intent of this proposal is to improve coordination and cooperation so that issues across the broader region can be address.

How will the project be organised and managed?
A project leader or co-leaders will be selected by the project participants who will coordinate activities, seek additional sources of funding, and provide a link between participants. Planning workshops will be held in 2005 and 2006 with the participants to develop common sampling protocols, coordinate equipment and purchasing, and to formalise cooperative agreements through MOUs. Meetings with local hunters and trappers, Inuvialuit Game Council, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Wildlife Management Advisory Committee (North Slope and NWT), and the North Slope Borough will assist with planning and local involvement.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Involvement of local people in the field studies is a priority for all participants. Consultation with local hunters and trappers will be an integral part of the program. A website will be created updated regularly to give near real time information on the activities of focal animals. A newsletter would be provided twice a year to inform the communities about activities and results. Diverse media people would be invited to participate to aid in communicating to a broader audience. A monograph synthesising the project results could be produced in cooperation with the Canadian Circumpolar Institute for wider dissemination of results. Peer reviewed publications will form the core of the scientific communications with presentations at national and international conferences.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data collected during the study will reside with the local government agencies and be available for land use planning. Partners will be provided with copies of data required for integrated analyses. A centralised relational database will be created and housed and maintained with mirror copies in project partner offices as required. Standardisation of methods will assist with quality control. Material will be archived for long-term storage at the University of Alberta genetic database (maintained by Dr. David Coltman with funding from Parks Canada), Zoological Museum, University of Alberta, or the University of Alaska Museum Mammal Collection (Fairbank

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be sought from a combination of government, private, and industrial sources. We would anticipate that approximately 25% of the funding could be generated through IPY. Funding to coordinate initial planning meetings are not included in the annual budget but would cost ca. $30,000 per year for travel. Annual support will be sought from: Polar Continental Shelf Project ca. $160,000 NSERC CRD ca. $125,000 Industry ca. $125,000 Government (3 territories) ca. $125,000 Endangered Species Recovery Fund ca. $20,000 Habitat Stewardship Fund ca. $40,000 Indian and Northern Affairs (NSTP) ca. $12,000 University of Alberta ca. $30,000 Alberta Cooperative Conservation Research Unit ca. $25,000 International Polar Year (Canada) ca. $225,000 Total: ca. $887,000 per year

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
High latitude grizzly bear populations are the stronghold of the species in North America. The populations exist in extremely harsh conditions yet support a viable sustenance and sport hunt that is important to local communities. In southern areas, grizzly bear populations have faired poorly with human development and this study provides an opportunity to develop the largest scale and most integrated study of this species to date. The scale of the study is significant given the large home ranges in the barrens. Scientifically, studying a species at the edge of its range provides insight into the adaptability of the species and given the extensive data available from southern populations, there is an abundance of comparative approaches that will yield new insights.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Andrew Derocher
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
CW 405 Biological Sciences Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2E9
Canada

Tel: 780 492-5570
Mobile: no
Fax: 780 492-9234
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation