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Hematology of Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears (2005–2007): Biomarker for an Arctic Ecosystem Health Sentinel

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Abstract

Declines in sea-ice habitats have resulted in declining stature, productivity, and survival of polar bears in some regions. With continuing sea-ice declines, negative population effects are projected to expand throughout the polar bear’s range. Precise causes of diminished polar bear life history performance are unknown, however, climate and sea-ice condition change are expected to adversely impact polar bear (Ursus maritimus) health and population dynamics. As apex predators in the Arctic, polar bears integrate the status of lower trophic levels and are therefore sentinels of ecosystem health. Arctic residents feed at the apex of the ecosystem, thus polar bears can serve as indicators of human health in the Arctic. Despite their value as indicators of ecosystem welfare, population-level health data for U.S. polar bears are lacking. We present hematological reference ranges for southern Beaufort Sea polar bears. Hematological parameters in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears varied by age, geographic location, and reproductive status. Total leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and serum immunoglobulin G were significantly greater in males than females. These measures were greater in nonlactating females ages ≥5, than lactating adult females ages ≥5, suggesting that females encumbered by young may be less resilient to new immune system challenges that may accompany ongoing climate change. Hematological values established here provide a necessary baseline for anticipated changes in health as arctic temperatures warm and sea-ice declines accelerate. Data suggest that females with dependent young may be most vulnerable to these changes and should therefore be a targeted cohort for monitoring in this sentinel.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the United States Geological Survey (USGS) polar bear research group: Geoffrey York, Kristin Simac, George Durner, and Eric Regehr for support in the field; and Katrina Knott of the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, for assistance with sample collection. We thank the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management and BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. for logistics support; and the World Wildlife Fund for financial support (Oslo, Norway; Arctic Program). Sample collections described here were part of ongoing polar bear research conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center. University of Alaska participation in this project was supported by Grant Number RR016466 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Contents and conclusions presented are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NCRR or NIH. Thanks also to Erich Follmann, Camilla Lieske, and Lora Ballweber for manuscript commentary. Use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the federal government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 311 Irving I Building, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Cassandra M. Kirk, Rhonda Swor, Darce Holcomb & Todd M. O’Hara

  2. Alaska Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    Steven Amstrup

  3. 13840 Knob Hill Drive, Eagle River, AK, 99577, USA

    Cassandra M. Kirk

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  1. Cassandra M. Kirk
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  2. Steven Amstrup
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  5. Todd M. O’Hara
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Correspondence to Cassandra M. Kirk.

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Kirk, C.M., Amstrup, S., Swor, R. et al. Hematology of Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears (2005–2007): Biomarker for an Arctic Ecosystem Health Sentinel. EcoHealth 7, 307–320 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-010-0322-1

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