|
Polar Bears Polar bears occur in the ice-covered portions of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas adjacent to Alaska. Their dependence upon drifting ice makes polar bears an important indicator of global warming and its effects in the Arctic. Ongoing studies at the ASC-BSO are designed to explain the movements and activities of polar bears, by investigating interactions between bears, their principal prey, ringed seals, and the sea ice that supports both of them. We are studying changes in movements and distribution patterns of polar bears and learning how understanding those patterns may help address habitat management issues. We also are estimating population size and refining our ability to detect and project trends in numbers of polar bears. Finally, to enhance our ability to protect mother bears and their newborns from human disturbances, we are mapping maternal denning habitat and investigating ways to detect bears in dens, even when they are buried deep under the driven Arctic snow.
|
Brown Bears Brown bear research conducted by the Alaska Science Center - Biological Science Office is focused on issues of concern within National Parks and Refuges. Ongoing research addresses issues of brown bear population dynamics, bear-human interactions, bear foraging ecology, and bear habitat relationships. Additionally, issues of safety in bear country are of importance and are being investigated by Center research staff.
|
|
|
Sea Otters The scientific name for the sea otter is Enhydra lutris, which means "otter in the water". This name is quite fitting as they spend almost all their life in the ocean - they eat, sleep, mate, give birth and feed their young at sea. Sea otters are the largest members of the weasel family. They are also among the smallest of the marine mammals. Like all mammals, otters breathe air, feed milk to their young, are warm blooded and have hair on their bodies. Sea otters are only found in the North Pacific Ocean, where they live along rocky shorelines and sheltered coves. Approximately 168,000 sea otters live in the waters off of Alaska and Russia. Groups of sea otters, called rafts, float among the kelp beds, where there is plenty of food.
|
Last Updated: February 5, 2009