Seals, bears and ice
The principle objective of this programme is to assess past and present impacts of climatic conditions on the population ecology of polar bears and ringed seals, and to develop predictive tools to assess the potential impacts of future climate change on these animals and the ecosystem they occupy.
The sub-goals of the programme include assessment of the effects of climate on: 1) spatial patterns 2) predator-prey dynamics 3) growth and survivorship (using tooth growth layers - specimens collected 1950-2002 and DNMI meteorological and ice records and archived sea-ice-satellite images) and 4) modelling potential impacts of future climate change.
The field campaign for this programme took place 2002-2004; analyses are on-going.
This NPI programme is financially assisted by the Norwegian Research Council (ARCTOS).
Prosjektleder: Drs. Christian Lydersen, Jon Aars & Kit M. Kovacs