US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant: Genetic Capture-Recapture of Chukchi Sea Polar Bears

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this agreement is to provide the Marine Mammal Council in Russia with the funding to collect and analyze genetic samples from polar bears that inhabit the Chukchi and northern Bering Seas. The results from this project will be used to meet the joint objective of the Marine Mammal Council and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to manage this polar bear population on the basis of accurate scientific information. The genetic studies conducted under this cooperative agreement will be used to understand spatial distribution patterns and to contribute samples from the US and Russia to a joint capture-recapture program with the long-term goal of obtaining vital rates and an estimate of population size.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this agreement are to provide support and assistance to the Marine Mammal Council for 2011-2013 collection of hair, fecal, and potentially biopsy samples from polar bears on the Chukotkan coast and Wrangel Island in Russia. Samples will be genetically analyzed using rigorous and verified techniques for individually identifying polar bears. Data will be contributed to a joint dataset from samples collected in the US and Russia and investigators will work together to produce a manuscript to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

REASON FOR SINGLE SOURCE:

(1) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location and technical expertise. Andrei Boltunov with the Marine Mammal Council has been studying polar bears in Russia for over 20 years and maintains partnerships with local people on the Chukotkan coast and with researchers on Wrangel Island that are critical to allowing for collection of polar bear samples from these remote areas. He is a member of the US-Russia scientific working group which advises the US-Russia polar bear commission formed under the US-Russia Agreement for the conservation of polar bears and has studied polar bears for two decades in Russia. He is one of only several polar bear biologists studying the Chukchi-Bering Seas polar bear population. He has developed relationships with Chukotkan Natives and coordinated the logistics of sample collection in this region for the past two years. Furthermore, he works closely with the long-time resident polar bear biologist on Wrangel Island. He is uniquely positioned both socially and geographically to conduct this work.