1. QUANTIFYING THE SENSITIVITY OF ARCTIC MARINE MAMMALS TO CLIMATE-INDUCED HABITAT CHANGE.
- Author
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Laidre, Kristin L., Stirling, Ian, Lowry, Lloyd F., Wiig, ∅ystein, Heide-J∅rgensen, Mads Peter, and Ferguson, Steven H.
- Subjects
ANIMAL behavior ,MARINE mammals ,AQUATIC habitats ,ACCLIMATIZATION ,CLIMATE change ,EXTINCT animals ,GLOBAL warming ,ENVIRONMENTAL indicators ,SEA ice - Abstract
The article focuses on the sensitivity of Arctic marine mammals to climate-induced habitat change in the Arctic regions. It reviews the seven Arctic and four subarctic marine mammal species, their habitat requirements, and evidence for biological and demographic responses to climate change. It depicts an index of species sensitivity to climate change based on the population size, geographic range, and habitat specificity and it suggests three types of sensitivity based on narrowness of distribution and specialization in feeding, seasonal dependence on ice, and reliance on sea ice as an access to prey and predator avoidance.
- Published
- 2008
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