Estimation of Abundance and Demographic Rates of Pacific Walruses in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2015

This study estimated abundance and demographic rates, including survival and recruitment, of Pacific walruses in the Beaufort Sea in 2015. The data collected was used to determine the feasibility of conducting a large scale and long-term capture-mark-recapture effort to determine the size of the Pacific walrus population as well as age and sex specific survival and recruitment of the population. The decline in sea ice habitat and the associated stressors are causing a population decline of Pacific walrus. This study provided a baseline for monitoring Pacific walrus populations. The data was collected from visual observations of Pacific walruses in which skin biopsy samples were collected and used for individual identification. The field data was collected on an electronic field entry system, a Juniper Mesa and converted to a csv file.

本研究于2015年估算了波弗特海（Beaufort Sea）太平洋海象（Pacific walrus）的丰度及种群统计率（demographic rates），包括存活率（survival）与补充率（recruitment）。所收集的数据用于评估开展大规模、长期标记重捕（capture-mark-recapture）研究的可行性，以明确太平洋海象种群规模及种群中年龄与性别特异性的存活率和补充率。海冰栖息地的减少及其相关压力因素正导致太平洋海象种群数量下降。本研究为太平洋海象种群监测提供了基线数据。数据通过对太平洋海象的目视观测获取，期间采集了皮肤活检样本用于个体识别。现场数据通过Juniper Mesa电子野外录入系统采集，并转换为csv文件。