Drivers and consequences of individual specialization in an Arctic marine top predator

Principal Investigator: Gregory Thiemann Funding: NSERC Discovery Grant. Term: 2021-2026. The proposed research involves testing hypotheses around the environmental drivers and ecological consequences of individual specialization, using the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) as a model species and target for conservation. As a long­-lived top predator in a dynamic habitat, polar bears demonstrate several characteristics that

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Climate, conflict, and co-existence: Identifying the drivers of human-polar bear interaction in Southern Hudson Bay

Principal Investigator: Gregory Thiemann Funding: World Wildlife Fund Term: 2021 - to date The primary goal of this research is to reduce the risk of human-polar bear conflict. This will both reduce the risk of injury to people and reduce the number of polar bears killed in defense of life or property. Secondarily, the proposed

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Polar bear diets reflect environmental changes

When people hear the words “global warming,” they often think of the polar ice caps melting, and the polar bears that suffer as a result. This raises questions about how rising temperatures and sea ice loss are affecting the diets of polar bears, and how this information can be used to help protect them. New research from

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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

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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

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