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Polar Bear Media/Contacts

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By Alaska Science Center July 31, 2024

If you have questions about research or media inquiries regarding the USGS Alaska Science Center, please contact the Alaska Science Center Communications Web Team.

Return to Media/Outreach or Polar Bear Research

We appreciate all the interest in the USGS research on Polar bears. You can find videos, news releases, USGS top stories and fact sheets on this page and under the news and publications tabs.

Polar Bear Videos

For more information regarding polar bears and polar bear research visit:

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Polar bear mother and two cubs on the Beaufort Sea ice.

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Polar Bear Research

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 45
No results found.

Below are publications associated with USGS Alaska Science Center Polar Bear Research.

U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments

The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to...
Authors
John M. Pearce, Caroline R. Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
Filter Total Items: 26

The role of satellite telemetry data in 21st century conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) The role of satellite telemetry data in 21st century conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Satellite telemetry (ST) has played a critical role in the management and conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) over the last 50 years. ST data provide biological information relevant to subpopulation delineation, movements, habitat use, maternal denning, health, human-bear interactions, and accurate estimates of vital rates and abundance. Given that polar bears are distributed...
Authors
Kristin L. Laidre, George M. Durner, Nicholas J Lunn, Eric V. Regehr, Todd C. Atwood, Karyn D. Rode, Jon Aars, Heli Routti, Oystein Wiig, Markus Dyck, Evan S. Richardson, Stephen D Atkinson, Stanislav Belikov, Ian Stirling
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Survival and abundance of polar bears in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, 2001–2016 Survival and abundance of polar bears in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, 2001–2016

The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid transformation toward a seasonally ice-free ecosystem. As ice-adapted apex predators, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are challenged to cope with ongoing habitat degradation and changes in their prey base driven by food-web response to climate warming. Knowledge of polar bear response to environmental change is necessary to understand ecosystem dynamics...
Authors
Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, David C. Douglas, George M. Durner, Kristin S. Simac, Todd C. Atwood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator

Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein:fat ratio of diets consumed by wild...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Charles T. Robbins, Craig A. Stricker, Brian D. Taras, Troy N Tollefson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Measuring adrenal and reproductive hormones in hair from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus) Measuring adrenal and reproductive hormones in hair from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) use sea ice to access marine mammal prey. In Alaska’s Southern Beaufort Sea, the declining availability of sea ice habitat in summer and fall has reduced opportunities for polar bears to routinely hunt on the ice for seals, their primary prey. This reduced access to prey may result in physiological stress with subsequent potential consequences to...
Authors
Marilize Van der Walt, Lorin Neuman-Lee, Patricia Terletzky, Todd C. Atwood, Eric Gese, Susannah French
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing loss of sea ice habitats used to access their marine mammal prey. Simultaneously, ocean warming is changing ecosystems that support marine mammal populations. The interactive effects of sea ice and prey are not well understood yet may explain spatial‐temporal variation in the response of polar bears to sea ice loss. Here, we examined the...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Eric V. Regehr, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Ryan H. Wilson, Michelle St. Martin, Justin A. Crawford, Lori T. Quakenbush
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Updated forecast: Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions required to improve polar bear outlook Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Updated forecast: Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions required to improve polar bear outlook

The Arctic is warming faster than other regions of the world due to the loss of snow and ice, which increases the amount of solar energy absorbed by the region. The most visible consequence has been the rapid decline in sea ice over the last 3 decades-a decline projected to bring long ice-free summers if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not significantly reduced. The polar bear (Ursus...
Authors
Karen L. Oakley, Todd C. Atwood, Douglas N. Mugel, Karyn D. Rode, Mary E. Whalen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 13

If you have questions about research or media inquiries regarding the USGS Alaska Science Center, please contact the Alaska Science Center Communications Web Team.

Return to Media/Outreach or Polar Bear Research

We appreciate all the interest in the USGS research on Polar bears. You can find videos, news releases, USGS top stories and fact sheets on this page and under the news and publications tabs.

Polar Bear Videos

For more information regarding polar bears and polar bear research visit:

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Polar bear mother and two cubs on the Beaufort Sea ice.

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Polar Bear Research

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
Learn More

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 45
No results found.

Below are publications associated with USGS Alaska Science Center Polar Bear Research.

U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments U.S. Geological Survey Arctic ecosystem assessments

The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) conducts natural hazard and resource assessments of the Earth’s ecosystems and the response of those ecosystems to environmental change, human activities, and land use. Arctic regions of Alaska are important for cultural and economic sustainability and host a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are of conservation and management interest to...
Authors
John M. Pearce, Caroline R. Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
Filter Total Items: 26

The role of satellite telemetry data in 21st century conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) The role of satellite telemetry data in 21st century conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Satellite telemetry (ST) has played a critical role in the management and conservation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) over the last 50 years. ST data provide biological information relevant to subpopulation delineation, movements, habitat use, maternal denning, health, human-bear interactions, and accurate estimates of vital rates and abundance. Given that polar bears are distributed...
Authors
Kristin L. Laidre, George M. Durner, Nicholas J Lunn, Eric V. Regehr, Todd C. Atwood, Karyn D. Rode, Jon Aars, Heli Routti, Oystein Wiig, Markus Dyck, Evan S. Richardson, Stephen D Atkinson, Stanislav Belikov, Ian Stirling
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Survival and abundance of polar bears in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, 2001–2016 Survival and abundance of polar bears in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, 2001–2016

The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid transformation toward a seasonally ice-free ecosystem. As ice-adapted apex predators, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are challenged to cope with ongoing habitat degradation and changes in their prey base driven by food-web response to climate warming. Knowledge of polar bear response to environmental change is necessary to understand ecosystem dynamics...
Authors
Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, David C. Douglas, George M. Durner, Kristin S. Simac, Todd C. Atwood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator Energetic and health effects of protein overconsumption constrain dietary adaptation in an apex predator

Studies of predator feeding ecology commonly focus on energy intake. However, captive predators have been documented to selectively feed to optimize macronutrient intake. As many apex predators experience environmental changes that affect prey availability, limitations on selective feeding can affect energetics and health. We estimated the protein:fat ratio of diets consumed by wild...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Charles T. Robbins, Craig A. Stricker, Brian D. Taras, Troy N Tollefson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Measuring adrenal and reproductive hormones in hair from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus) Measuring adrenal and reproductive hormones in hair from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) use sea ice to access marine mammal prey. In Alaska’s Southern Beaufort Sea, the declining availability of sea ice habitat in summer and fall has reduced opportunities for polar bears to routinely hunt on the ice for seals, their primary prey. This reduced access to prey may result in physiological stress with subsequent potential consequences to...
Authors
Marilize Van der Walt, Lorin Neuman-Lee, Patricia Terletzky, Todd C. Atwood, Eric Gese, Susannah French
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea Seal body condition and atmospheric circulation patterns influence polar bear body condition, recruitment, and feeding ecology in the Chukchi Sea

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are experiencing loss of sea ice habitats used to access their marine mammal prey. Simultaneously, ocean warming is changing ecosystems that support marine mammal populations. The interactive effects of sea ice and prey are not well understood yet may explain spatial‐temporal variation in the response of polar bears to sea ice loss. Here, we examined the...
Authors
Karyn D. Rode, Eric V. Regehr, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Ryan H. Wilson, Michelle St. Martin, Justin A. Crawford, Lori T. Quakenbush
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Updated forecast: Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions required to improve polar bear outlook Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Updated forecast: Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions required to improve polar bear outlook

The Arctic is warming faster than other regions of the world due to the loss of snow and ice, which increases the amount of solar energy absorbed by the region. The most visible consequence has been the rapid decline in sea ice over the last 3 decades-a decline projected to bring long ice-free summers if greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not significantly reduced. The polar bear (Ursus...
Authors
Karen L. Oakley, Todd C. Atwood, Douglas N. Mugel, Karyn D. Rode, Mary E. Whalen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 13
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