Aquatic behaviour of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in an increasingly ice-free Arctic.

ABSTRACT: Polar bears are ice-associated marine mammals that are known to swim and dive, yet their aquatic behaviour is poorly documented. Reductions in Arctic sea ice are clearly a major threat to this species, but understanding polar bears' potential behavioural plasticity with respect to the ongoing changes requires knowledge of their swimming and diving skills. This study quantified time spent in water by adult female polar bears (n = 57) via deployment of various instruments bearing saltwater switches, and in some case pressure sensors (79 deployments, 64.8 bear-years of data). There were marked seasonal patterns in aquatic behaviour, with more time spent in the water during summer, when 75% of the polar bears swam daily (May-July). Females with cubs-of-the-year spent less time in the water tha

SUBMITTER: Lone K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6018667 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature