10.5061/DRYAD.G6Q07
Hamilton, Stephen G.
University of Alberta
Castro de la Guardia, Laura
University of Alberta
Derocher, Andrew E.
University of Alberta
Sahanatien, Vicki
University of Alberta
Tremblay, Bruno
McGill University
Huard, David
Data from: Projected polar bear sea ice habitat in the Canadian Arctic
Archipelago
Dryad
dataset
2015
2006-2100
2015-10-28T00:00:00Z
2015-10-28T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113746
1065167439 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Background: Sea ice across the Arctic is declining and altering physical
characteristics of marine ecosystems. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have
been identified as vulnerable to changes in sea ice conditions. We use sea
ice projections for the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from 2006 – 2100 to
gain insight into the conservation challenges for polar bears with respect
to habitat loss using metrics developed from polar bear energetics
modeling. Principal Findings: Shifts away from multiyear ice to annual ice
cover throughout the region, as well as lengthening ice-free periods, may
become critical for polar bears before the end of the 21st century with
projected warming. Each polar bear population in the Archipelago may
undergo 2–5 months of ice-free conditions, where no such conditions exist
presently. We identify spatially and temporally explicit ice-free periods
that extend beyond what polar bears require for nutritional and
reproductive demands. Conclusions/Significance: Under business-as-usual
climate projections, polar bears may face starvation and reproductive
failure across the entire Archipelago by the year 2100.
Depth-bathymetry fileUse as land mask file when
depth=0depth.ncMITgcm_SeaIce_GFDL_CM3_RCP85_2006-2100Monthly average sea
ice and snow conditions in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago 2006-2100 under
climate warming scenario RCP85. Model output in netcdf files, time steps
of 1 month starting on January
2006.MITgcm_SeaIce_GFDL_CM3_RCP85_2006_2100.zip
Canadian Arctic Archipelago