Seasonal movement and habitat use of beluga whales in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

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dc.contributor.authorHornby, Claire, Alexandra
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeStern, Gary (Environment & Geography) Manseau, Micheline (Natural Resources Institute)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorLoseto, Lisa (Environment & Geography) Barber, David (Environment & Geography)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-01-14T23:19:33Z
dc.date.available2016-01-14T23:19:33Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.degree.disciplineEnvironment and Geographyen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US
dc.description.abstractTo enhance knowledge of beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) movement and habitat use in the southeast Beaufort Sea, we examined aerial survey data from two critical seasons: spring (2012-2013) and late-summer (2007-2009). In the spring, belugas were associated to variables of sea ice, bathymetry, and turbidity (chi-square), and a combination of classes within these variables (multiple correspondence analysis). In the late-summer, a resource selection function (RSF) evaluated the influence of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a, bathymetry, and distance to shore on beluga habitat selection. In the spring, belugas primarily occurred in open water and close to fast-ice edges (<50 m), where increased freshwater flow was present. In the late-summer, prey aggregations likely influenced beluga selection of warmer waters (>0°C) found along the Mackenzie Shelf (<500 m), offshore of the Mackenzie Estuary and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula. This research contributed important knowledge related to habitat requirements of Beaufort Sea beluga whales, and can support communities and decision-makers when monitoring the effects of climate change.en_US
dc.description.noteFebruary 2016en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/31086
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectHabitat Useen_US
dc.subjectBeaufort Seaen_US
dc.subjectBeluga whalesen_US
dc.subjectClimate changeen_US
dc.subjectArcticen_US
dc.subjectSpatial habitat modelingen_US
dc.titleSeasonal movement and habitat use of beluga whales in the Canadian Beaufort Seaen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
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