Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T04:17:22.246Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Unusual hunting and feeding behaviour of polar bears on Spitsbergen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2013

Lech Stempniewicz ,
Dorota Kidawa ,
Mateusz Barcikowski  and
Lech Iliszko
Lech Stempniewicz
Affiliation:
University of Gdansk, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308 Gdansk, Poland (dokdki@univ.gda.pl)
Dorota Kidawa
Affiliation:
University of Gdansk, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308 Gdansk, Poland (dokdki@univ.gda.pl)
Mateusz Barcikowski
Affiliation:
University of Gdansk, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308 Gdansk, Poland (dokdki@univ.gda.pl)
Lech Iliszko
Affiliation:
University of Gdansk, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308 Gdansk, Poland (dokdki@univ.gda.pl)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Prolonged chasing of an adult reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) by a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) was observed both on land and in the sea, in Magdalenefjorden, northwest Spitsbergen. Polar bears were also observed catching black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in the sea in northwest Spitsbergen and feeding on chicks in the arctic tern (Sterna paradisea) colony in Hornsund, southwest Spitsbergen. While feeding on seabird species is unsurprising, the prolonged chasing of adult reindeer is unusual for polar bear hunting behaviour. The few documented cases of polar bear hunting reindeer consist of either surprising and killing resting/sleeping prey or stalking and a short rapid chase of the reindeer. Our observations describe new feeding habits of polar bears that may be in response to decreasing seal availability due to shrinking sea-ice cover in the Arctic.

Type
Notes
Information
Polar Record , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 216 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abraham, K.F., Mineau, P. and Cooke, F.. 1977. Unusual predators of snow goose eggs. Canadian Field-Naturalist 91: 317–318.Google Scholar
Amstrup, S.C. 2003. The polar bear Ursus maritimus – biology, management, and conservation. In: Feldhamer, G.A., Thompson, B.C. and Chapman, J.A.. Wild mammals of North America. - Biology, management, and conservation. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press: 587–610.Google Scholar
Best, R.C. 1982. Thermoregulation in resting and active polar bears. Journal of Comparative Physiology 146: 63–73.Google Scholar
Brook, R.K. and Richardson, E.S.. 2002. Observations of polar bear predatory behaviour toward caribou. Arctic 55: 193–196.Google Scholar
Derocher, A.E. 2005. Population ecology of polar bears at Svalbard, Norway. Population Ecology 47: 267–275.Google Scholar
Derocher, A.E., Andriashek, D. and Stirling, I.. 1993. Terrestrial foraging by polar bears during the ice–free period in western Hudson Bay. Arctic 46: 251–254.Google Scholar
Derocher, A.E., Lunn, N.J. and Stirling, I.. 2004. Polar bears in a warming climate. Integrative and Comparative Biology 44: 163–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Derocher, A.E., Wiig, Ø. and Bangjord, G.. 2000. Predation of Svalbard reindeer by polar bears. Polar Biology 23: 675–678.Google Scholar
Donaldson, G.M., Chapdelaine, G. and Andrews, J.D.. 1995. Predation of thick-billed murres, Uria lomvia, at two breeding colonies by polar bears, Ursus maritimus, and walruses, Odobenus rosmarus. Canadian Field-Naturalist 109: 112–114.Google Scholar
Furnell, D., and Oolooyuk, D.. 1980. Polar bear predation on ringed seals in ice–free water. Canadian Field Naturalist 94: 88–89.Google Scholar
Hurst, R.J., Øritsland, N.A. and Watts, P.D.. 1982. Body mass, temperature and cost of walking in polar bears. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 115: 391–395.Google Scholar
Iversen, M. 2011. The diet of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway, inferred from scat analysis. Unpublished Master's dissertation. Tromsø: University of Tromsø.Google Scholar
Lunn, N.J. and Stirling, I.. 1985. The significance of supplemental food to polar bears during the ice–free period of Hudson Bay. Canadian Journal of Zoology 63: 2291–2297.Google Scholar
Molnár, P.K., Derocher, A.E., Klanjscek, T. and Lewis, M.A.. 2010. Predicting survival, reproduction and abundance of polar bears under climate change. Biological Conservation 143: 1612–1622.Google Scholar
Ovsyanikov, N.G. 1996. Interactions of polar bears with other large mammals, including man. Journal of Wildlife Research 1: 254–259.Google Scholar
Ramsay, M.A. and Hobson, K.A.. 1991. Polar bears make little use of terrestrial food webs: evidence from stable–carbon isotope analysis. Oecologia 86: 598–600. doi: 10.1007/BF00318328.Google Scholar
Russell, R.H. 1975. The food habits of polar bears of James Bay and southwest Hudson Bay in summer and autumn. Arctic 28: 117–129.Google Scholar
Smith, A.E. and Hill, M.R.J.. 1996. Polar bear, Ursus maritimus, depredation of Canada goose, Branta canadensis, nests. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110: 339–340.Google Scholar
Smith, T.G. 1980. Polar bear predation of ringed and bearded seals in the land-fast sea ice habitat. Canadian Journal of Zoology 58: 2201–2209.Google Scholar
Smith, T.G. and Lydersen, C.. 1992. Availability of suitable land-fast ice and predation as factors limiting ringed seal populations, Phoca hispida, in Svalbard. Polar Research 10: 585–594.Google Scholar
Stempniewicz, L. 1993. The polar bear, Ursus maritimus, feeding in a seabird colony in Frans Josef Land. Polar Research 12: 33–36.Google Scholar
Stempniewicz, L. 2006. Polar bear predatory behaviour towards molting barnacle geese and nesting glaucous gulls on Spitsbergen. Arctic 59: 247–251.Google Scholar
Stirling, I. 1974. Midsummer observations on the behavior of wild polar bears, Ursus maritimus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 52: 1191–1198.Google Scholar
Stirling, I., Lunn, N.J. and Iacozza, J.. 1999. Long–term trends in the population ecology of polar bears in western Hudson Bay in relation to climatic change. Arctic 52: 294–306.Google Scholar
Stirling, I. and McEwan, E.H.. 1975. The calorific value of whole ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in relation to polar bear (Ursus maritimus) ecology and hunting behavior. Canadian Journal of Zoology 53: 1021–1027.Google Scholar
Stirling, I. and Smith, T.G.. 2004. Implications of warm temperatures and an unusual rain event for the survival of ringed seals on the coast of southeastern Baffin Island. Arctic 57: 59–67.Google Scholar
Stone, I.R. and Derocher, A.E.. 2007. An incident of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism on Phippsøya, Svalbard. Polar Record 43: 171–173.Google Scholar
Watts, P.D. and Hansen, S.E.. 1987. Cyclic starvation as a reproductive strategy in the polar bear. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 57: 305–318.Google Scholar