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Decreasing sea ice conditions in western Hudson Bay and an increase in abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Churchill River

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Abstract

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) occur in the Arctic but little is known of their population abundance and natural history. In western Hudson Bay, they occur at lower numbers relative to ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and their distribution is largely unknown. However, a reduction in the duration of periods of ice cover in Hudson Bay may be shifting the habitat suitability of the region towards one that favours harbour seals. Harbour seal counts from a known haul-out site at the upstream extent of the Churchill River estuary, located in northern Manitoba, were examined in relation to sea ice conditions in western Hudson Bay. The Churchill River estuary haul-out site was observed directly or remotely (via GigaPan™ photos) during the open-water seasons in 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2005, and from 2014 to 2016. We documented an increase in abundance over the study period; the maximum number of harbour seals observed hauled out at one time was 142 in 2016, compared to a maximum of 32 observed during monitoring activities conducted between 1996 and 2005. In addition, newly born harbour seal pups were observed at the haul-out site during the latter study years, an occurrence not observed from 1996 to 2005. We suggest that an increase in the abundance of harbour seals in Hudson Bay and potentially the entire Arctic may be observed if climate change related reductions in the duration of ice cover continue.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Assiniboine Park Conservancy, Churchill Northern Studies Centre (Northern Research Fund), Calm Air, and Earth Rangers. Thanks also to Manitoba Hydro for funding seal-monitoring activities conducted from 1996 to 2005. We thank the Arviat Hunters and Trappers Organization and the local hunters that contributed to our collection of Inuit-hunted seal samples; in particular, we thank Frank Nutarasungnik who organized the sample collections. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for providing valuable comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Katie R. N. Florko

  2. North South Consultants Inc, Winnipeg, MB, R3Y 1G4, Canada

    Warren Bernhardt

  3. Conservation and Research Department, Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, MB, R3P 2N6, Canada

    C-Jae C. Breiter & Stephen D. Petersen

  4. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada

    Steven H. Ferguson & Brent G. Young

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Steven H. Ferguson

  6. Polar Bears International, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 1W8, Canada

    Meagan Hainstock

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  1. Katie R. N. Florko
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Correspondence to Katie R. N. Florko.

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Florko, K.R.N., Bernhardt, W., Breiter, CJ.C. et al. Decreasing sea ice conditions in western Hudson Bay and an increase in abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Churchill River. Polar Biol 41, 1187–1195 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-018-2277-6

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