Polar bear (<i>Ursus maritimus</i>) maternity denning habitat in western Hudson Bay: a bottom-up approach to resource selection functions

Abstract

We examined habitat characteristics of 101 polar bear (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) den sites and 83 adjacent unoccupied sites in western Hudson Bay, Canada, between mid-August and early October 2001 and 2002. Bears denned almost exclusively in peat banks (n = 100) along the edges of creeks, rivers, and lakes adjacent to open lichen tundra sites. Den sites differed from unoccupied sites by having greater tree cover (P = 0.002), less moss cover (P &lt; 0.001), and less herbaceous cover (P = 0.005). The presence of tree roots improved substrate stability, providing support to den structures. Den entrance azimuths were weighted toward a southeasterly aspect (P &lt; 0.005), away from the prevailing northwest winds. To identify habitats with the greatest relative probability of having a den, a resource selection function (RSF) model was developed using remote sensing imagery and 1245 known den locations. High normalized difference vegetation index and brightness values derived from Landsat imagery, which were in close proximity to water, corresponded well with polar bear den sites. Identification of critical denning areas through the use of RSF will provide resource managers with a valuable tool for ensuring the protection of denning habitat, and consequently female bears and their young.