Monitoring for shifts in odontocete range and distribution in the Arctic and Sub Arctic Seas
Abstract
The proposed research will establish a long-term monitoring program to collect high-frequency acoustic data along the Pacific Arctic corridor. High-frequency vocal detections will be classified to the species level and begin identifying season patterns of odontocete presence and distribution. These occurrence patterns will be combined with in situ and satellite derived environmental data, including fish and zooplankton biomass and sea ice cover, to develop predictive habitat models. This knowledge is vital to our understanding of how federally protected marine mammal species utilize the Bering and Chukchi Seas, an important feeding ground and passageway to the high Arctic Ocean. Therefore these data will not only provide insight into current habitat use patterns, but provide a baseline for understanding and predicting future shifts in distribution and foraging strategy.The objectives of this project are: document the distribution of odontocetes along the Arctic corridor from the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea and develop predictive models of species occurrence; identify any shifts in odontocete range or distribution along the Arctic corridor over time; and relate observed shifts to key environmental parameters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612594
Entities
People
- Jennifer Miksis-Olds
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University System of New Hampshire