With the approval of oil and gas leasing in the 1002 Area of Alaska, the Service initiated a study to estimate the potential impacts of a late summer, near-shore oil spill on polar bears. We simulated oil spills at three locations along the 1002 Area coastline in late summer/early autumn and assumed spills came from an underwater pipeline rupture that lasted 6 days and which the oil was tracked for a 50-day period. Based on previous studies of onshore polar bear density and space use, we will estimate how many bears could possibly be exposed to oil.
Wildlife Biologist - Polar Bears
Alaska Marine Mammals Management Office
Expertise
Wildlife movement, space use, and resource selection,
Development of ecological models to inform wildlife management decisions,
quantitative ecology
Area
AK
Anchorage,AK
Manager/Supervisory Biologist - Polar Bears
Alaska Marine Mammals Management Office
Expertise
Human-wildlife conflict management,
Nutritional, spatial, and habitat ecology of large mammals
Area
AK
Anchorage,AK