Tracking Polar Bear Movements with Fur- and Ear-Mounted Satellite Tags

Jenn Hoskins
16th July, 2024

Tracking Polar Bear Movements with Fur- and Ear-Mounted Satellite Tags

To evaluate alternatives to traditional collars, this study tested the design and attachment methods of three temporary fur tags—pentagon (a), SeaTrkr (b), and tribrush (c)—and a standard ear tag (d) for tracking male Polar bears (Ursus maritimus).

Image adapted from: Ross et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • Researchers at York University developed new fur- and ear-mounted telemetry tags to track polar bears of all ages and sexes
  • Fur tags provided high-resolution data but lasted shorter periods (22-58 days) compared to ear tags (121 days)
  • The study found that male polar bears spend most of their time resting on land, increasing travel as temperatures cool
Understanding animal movement is crucial for ecological research, species management, and conservation efforts. Over the years, advancements in technology have allowed scientists to collect detailed data on the movements of various species, including those in remote environments. A recent study conducted by York University[1] focuses on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and introduces innovative methods to track their movements more effectively. Traditionally, satellite-linked radio and GPS collars have been used to study polar bear movements across the Arctic for over 50 years. However, these collars can only be reliably attached to adult female polar bears due to their morphology and growth constraints. This limitation has resulted in a significant data gap for other segments of the polar bear population, such as males and subadults. To address this issue, researchers tested fur- and ear-mounted telemetry tags that can be affixed to polar bears of any sex and age. The study tested three different fur tag designs (SeaTrkr, tribrush, and pentagon tags) on 15 adult and one subadult male polar bears along the coast of Hudson Bay during August–September 2021–2022. These fur tags were compared with ear tags deployed on 42 subadult and adult male polar bears captured between 2016 and 2022. The objective was to quantify the time these polar bears spent resting versus traveling while on land. The results revealed that the fur tags remained functional for shorter durations compared to ear tags, with the SeaTrkr fur tags lasting an average of 58 days, tribrush tags 47 days, and pentagon tags 22 days. In contrast, ear tags had a mean duration of 121 days. Despite the shorter functional periods, the positional error estimates were comparable among the Argos-equipped tags. Notably, the GPS/Iridium-equipped SeaTrkr fur tags provided higher resolution and more frequent location data. The data collected from these tags enabled the researchers to model different behavioral states of the polar bears. The findings confirmed the hypothesis that subadult and adult male polar bears spend the majority of their time resting while on land and increase their traveling time as temperatures cool. This information is essential for understanding the movement ecology of polar bears and can inform conservation strategies, particularly in the face of climate change. The use of telemetry tags aligns with previous advancements in movement ecology research. Earlier studies have highlighted the importance of understanding the internal state, motion capacity, and navigation of organisms to study their movement comprehensively[2]. The new telemetry tags provide a means to gather detailed data on these aspects for polar bears, thereby integrating conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and empirical frameworks for studying their movement[2]. Moreover, the integration of GPS technology in wildlife studies has been instrumental in refining our understanding of animal behavior and ecology. The ability to gather accurate location data and combine it with sensor data has allowed researchers to study various species in detail[3]. The recent study on polar bears leverages these advancements by using high-frequency sampling and sensor integration to collect comprehensive data on their movement patterns[3]. In summary, the introduction of fur- and ear-mounted telemetry tags by York University researchers represents a significant advancement in the study of polar bear movement. These tags provide a viable alternative to traditional collars, allowing for the collection of movement data from a broader range of polar bears. The findings from this study contribute to our understanding of polar bear behavior and ecology, which is crucial for their conservation in a rapidly changing Arctic environment.

EnvironmentWildlifeAnimal Science

References

Main Study

1) Telemetry without collars: performance of fur- and ear-mounted satellite tags for evaluating the movement and behaviour of polar bears

Published 15th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00373-2

Related Studies

2) A movement ecology paradigm for unifying organismal movement research.

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0800375105

3) Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0090


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