From psychophysics to management of noise-disturbance in a large, Arctic carnivore, the polar bear.

Abstract

About 50% of maternal dens excavated by pregnant female polar bears on Alaska’s North Slope occur on land or land-fast ice. Management agencies and the public have raised concerns that noise from human activities could adversely affect denning female polar bears, causing den abandonment, interference with communication, altered habitat use, or behavioral and physiological stress. Although US Fish and Wildlife Service uses approach limits to prevent disturbance of denning females that are assumed to be conservative, no science-based standards have been developed and uncontrolled human activities are still possible. The potential for effects will be reviewed in light of published evidence and measurements of polar bear auditory thresholds [Bowles et al. (2008). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 123, 3509] to show how an understanding of species-specific psychophysical characteristics is needed to assess the impact of noise disturbance from industrial activities. Scientific challenges to quantifying effects include identifying efficient noise metrics and practical methods for measuring adverse responses. The negative ramifications of disturbance may be intensified due to anticipated reductions in polar bear physical condition as their sea ice habitat declines.