Marine mammal hotspots across the circumpolar Arctic
Authors: Hamilton Charmain D. , Lydersen Christian , Aars Jon , Acquarone Mario , Atwood Todd , Baylis Alastair , Biuw Martin , Boltunov Andrei N. , Born Erik W. , Boveng Peter , Brown Tanya M. , Cameron Michael , Citta John , Crawford Justin , Dietz Rune , Elias Jim , Ferguson Steven H. , Fisk Aaron , Folkow Lars P. , Frost Kathryn J. , Glazov Dmitri M. , Granquist Sandra M. , Gryba Rowenna , Harwood Lois , Haug Tore , Heide‐Jørgensen Mads Peter , Hussey Nigel E. , Kalinek Jimmy , Laidre Kristin L. , Litovka Dennis I. , London Josh M. , Loseto Lisa L. , MacPhee Shannon , Marcoux Marianne , Matthews Cory J. D. , Nilssen Kjell , Nordøy Erling S. , O’Corry‐Crowe Greg , Øien Nils , Olsen Morten Tange , Quakenbush Lori , Rosing‐Asvid Aqqalu , Semenova Varvara , Shelden Kim E. W. , Shpak Olga V. , Stenson Garry , Storrie Luke , Sveegaard Signe , Teilmann Jonas , Ugarte Fernando , Von Duyke Andrew L. , Watt Cortney , Wiig Øystein , Wilson Ryan R. , Yurkowski David J. , Kovacs Kit M. 
Published: May 2022

Aim

Identify hotspots and areas of high species richness for Arctic marine mammals.

Location

Circumpolar Arctic.

Methods

A total of 2115 biologging devices were deployed on marine mammals from 13 species in the Arctic from 2005 to 2019. Getis‐Ord Gi* hotspots were calculated based on the number of individuals in grid cells for each species and for phylogenetic groups (nine pinnipeds, three cetaceans, all species) and areas with high species richness were identified for summer (Jun‐Nov), winter (Dec‐May) and the entire year. Seasonal habitat differences among species’ hotspots were investigated using Principal Component Analysis.

Results

Hotspots and areas with high species richness occurred within the Arctic continental‐shelf seas and within the marginal ice zone, particularly in the “Arctic gateways” of the north Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Summer hotspots were generally found further north than winter hotspots, but there were exceptions to this pattern, including bowhead whales in the Greenland‐Barents Seas and species with coastal distributions in Svalbard, Norway and East Greenland. Areas with high species richness generally overlapped high‐density hotspots. Large regional and seasonal differences in habitat features of hotspots were found among species but also within species from different regions. Gap analysis (discrepancy between hotspots and IUCN ranges) identified species and regions where more research is required.

Main conclusions

This study identified important areas (and habitat types) for Arctic marine mammals using available biotelemetry data. The results herein serve as a benchmark to measure future distributional shifts. Expanded monitoring and telemetry studies are needed on Arctic species to understand the impacts of climate change and concomitant ecosystem changes (synergistic effects of multiple stressors). While efforts should be made to fill knowledge gaps, including regional gaps and more complete sex and age coverage, hotspots identified herein can inform management efforts to mitigate the impacts of human activities and ecological changes, including creation of protected areas.