"As a Wildlife Biology and Conservation master’s student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, my research focuses on understanding spotted seal (Phoca largha) terrestrial ecology in Alaska. As an ice-associated species, it is expected that spotted seals, and the Indigenous Arctic communities that rely on them as a subsistence and cultural resource, will be impacted by ongoing ecological change. However, there are many knowledge gaps regarding spotted seal ecology and biology. Challenging weather conditions, financial and logistical constraints, remote and inaccessible habitats, and the highly sensitive nature of this species pose a significant challenge to effective wildlife management and data collection via traditional survey methods including manned aircraft and boats. This lack of data is especially apparent for the summer open-water season, when spotted seals migrate to the Chukchi and Beaufort seas to feed, resting on coastlines in between foraging trips.
To improve our understanding of spotted seal terrestrial ecology during this critical period in their life history, we used two non-invasive technologies, namely camera traps and small drones, at haul out locations in the Beaufort Sea during the open-water season (~Jun-Sep). To deepen our understanding of haul out behavior, results were woven with local environmental observations from IK holders from the nearby community of Utqiaġvik, Alaska. We also tested the feasibility of using small drones to assess spotted seal relative abundance, body condition, and age distribution by flying over haul outs throughout the 2024 open-water season. Preliminary results suggest small drones can be flown over spotted seals without causing a disturbance, opening novel opportunities to collect data on body condition, relative abundance, behavior, and photo identification.
As an aspiring Arctic researcher, I wanted to attend the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) as part of the 5th International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) to learn from experts in the field, expand my understanding of diverse knowledge systems, and share my current research. My travel to ASSW would not have been possible without receiving a travel award from the University of the Arctic. The conference allowed me to engage with Arctic experts and broadened my understanding of diverse research approaches. Furthermore, I presented my research, “Exploring novel technologies to assess spotted seal terrestrial ecology”, during the summit’s poster session. This was an invaluable experience: I connected with Arctic researchers familiar with my study area or approach, talked through potential future directions, and answered questions that expanded my perspective and will help improve my future research and work."
This opportunity was funded by Global Affairs Canada.