Marine mammal hotspots in the Greenland and Barents Seas

Abstract

Environmental change and increasing levels of human activity are threats to marine mammals in the Arctic. Identifying marine mammal hotspots and areas of high species richness are essential to help guide management and conservation efforts. Herein, space use based on biotelemetric tracking devices deployed on 13 species (ringed sealPusa hispida, bearded sealErignathus barbatus, harbour sealPhoca vitulina, walrusOdobenus rosmarus, harp sealPagophilus groenlandicus, hooded sealCystophora cristata, polar bearUrsus maritimus, bowhead whaleBalaena mysticetus, narwhalMonodon monoceros, white whaleDelphinapterus leucas, blue whaleBalaenoptera musculus, fin whaleBalaenoptera physalusand humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliae; total = 585 individuals) in the Greenland and northern Barents Seas between 2005 and 2018 is reported. Getis-OrdGi* hotspots were calculated for each species as well as all species combined, and areas of high species richness were identified for summer/autumn (Jun-Dec), winter/spring (Jan-May) and the entire year. The marginal ice zone (MIZ) of the Greenland Sea and northern Barents Sea, the waters surrounding the Svalbard Archipelago and a few Northeast Greenland coastal sites were identified as key marine mammal hotspots and areas of high species richness in this region. Individual hotspots identified areas important for most of the tagged animals, such as common resting, nursing, moulting and foraging areas. Location hotspots identified areas heavily used by segments of the tagged populations, including denning areas for polar bears and foraging areas. The hotspots identified herein are also important habitats for seabirds and fishes, and thus conservation and management measures targeting these regions would benefit multiple groups of Arctic animals.