Knowledge co-production to address human-polar bear conflict in Southern Hudson Bay and James Bay

Polar bears in Ontario are at the southern limit of their species’ range. As part of the Southern Hudson Bay subpopulation, these roughly 800 bears migrate onto land when the sea ice of Hudson Bay melts completely each summer. On shore, polar bears primarily fast and rely on stored fat for energy. With increasing global

[ Read More ]

Polar bear diet may indicate prey distribution changes due to climate shifts

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2021 – How are warming temperatures and a loss of sea ice affecting polar bears and their marine mammal prey in the Arctic? A York University-led research team used a novel approach to the question by monitoring what polar bears eat across Nunavut and where they are catching their prey. They found that

[ Read More ]

Foraging ecology of polar bears

February 27 is International Polar Bear Day and in celebration of the event, we feature Gregory Thiemann whose research focuses on the ecology of polar bears and other Arctic carnivores, as well as the effects of climate change on food web dynamics. With a Killam/NSERC postdoctoral fellowship and a PhD in Biology from Dalhousie University,

[ Read More ]

Characterizing the denning habitat and movements of polar bears in Southern Hudson Bay

The research aims to inform and advance Government Response Statement (GRS) actions, as well as provide new insights into the ecology of polar bears in Ontario. The overarching goal is to better understand the influence of climate change on the ecology and biology of polar bears in Southern Hudson Bay. Funding:  Species at Risk Research

[ Read More ]

Foraging Ecology of Polar Bears in Foxe Basin and Hudson Bay, Canada

The overarching objective of this research is to identify the ecological and environmental factors that shape polar bear foraging success and drive their population dynamics in the Foxe Basin-Hudson Bay complex. Both new and established techniques will be used to characterize the diets, body condition, and habitat use of polar bears to examine the individual-,

[ Read More ]

Tracking Polar Bear Foraging Success in the Canadian Arctic

Kenneth Molson Foundation/York University Foundation The project monitored trends in foraging as well as nutritional conditions of polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. Researcher: PI: Greg Thiemann Project Theme: Resource Management

Canadian Polar Bear Body Condition

Environment Canada (EC) The project monitored trends in the nutritional condition of polar bears in the Canadian Arctic and examined the relationships between body condition and ongoing environmental change. Researcher: PI: Greg Thiemann Project Theme: Resource Management

Community-Based Monitoring of Ice-Breeding Seals and Polar Bear Feeding in the Gulf of Boothia

The study investigated the health and ecology of seal populations in the Gulf of Boothia and collected information on seals to allow monitoring of the foraging habits of polar bears. A collaborative partnership with the community of Kugaaruk was done to carry out a community-based monitoring program to collect biological information and samples from seals

[ Read More ]