COS 123-1 - Heritability of polar bear home ranges

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM EDT

Location: 513A

Presenting Author(s)

LK

Leah Kathan

Graduate Student
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Coauthor(s)

ER

Evan Richardson

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
NL

Nicholas Lunn

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
AD

Andrew Derocher

University of Alberta, Canada
CG

Colin J. Garroway, PhD

Associate Professor
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Background/Question/Methods

Climate change and related Arctic sea ice loss have caused polar bears (Ursus maritimus) to experience longer fasting periods and use more energy to remain in preferred habitats. Thus, polar bear subpopulations are expected to move. However, polar bear subpopulation ranges have not shifted, potentially due to geographical barriers, season-specific area fidelity, and genetic and social effects. This study identifies the genetic effects of polar bear home ranges and investigates the social influence of mother polar bears on their offspring. This study uses parent-offspring regressions to estimate the heritability of mother-daughter monthly home range size in the Western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation.

Results/Conclusions

Monthly home range size heritability estimates in this subpopulation were moderately heritable (h²=0.30-0.47), which is common for behavioural traits. These estimates indicate that genetics play a considerable role in the potential adaptability of space-use in response to climate change and provides insight on why predicted and necessary range shifts have not been observed in polar bears.