1. THE EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON POLAR BEAR BEHAVIOR Gillian Eckhardt, MSc. student September 2007

2. Potential human impacts on polar bears: Pollution Pollution Climate change Climate change Hunting Hunting Industrial activity Industrial activity Tourism Tourism September 2007

3. Tourism Up to10,000 tourists per year Up to10,000 tourists per year vehicles vehicles “hotels” “hotels” helicopters helicopters September 2007

4. Vehicles (Tundra Buggies, personal vehicles, or buses) Hotels September 2007

5. Objective of the Experiments Investigate: Investigate: tourist vehicles tourist vehicles (movements) (movements) tourist behavior (noise) tourist behavior (noise) September 2007

6. Experiment How does the tourist tundra buggy affect polar bear behavior? How does the tourist tundra buggy affect polar bear behavior? Variables: Variables: Movement of the tundra buggy Movement of the tundra buggy Tourist behavior (noise) Tourist behavior (noise) September 2007

7. Collect data on bear behavior when the vehicle approaches Videotape the bears’ reactions Methods September 2007

8. How Do Bears Behave When Tundra Buggies Or Vehicles Are Present ? How Do Bears Behave When Tundra Buggies Or Vehicles Are Present ? September 2007

9. Tundra Buggy Approach Experiments: A response is defined as a whole body change such as sitting up, walking away or running away A response is defined as a whole body change such as sitting up, walking away or running away Question: Do bears respond to tundra buggy or vehicle approaches? What is a “response”? September 2007

10. Vehicle Approach Experiments: Do bears respond to tundra buggies or vehicles? Do bears respond to tundra buggies or vehicles? If so, at what distance do they respond? If so, at what distance do they respond? Does this distance change over time? Does this distance change over time? September 2007

11. What variables might affect the bears’ response? Tundra buggy speed Tundra buggy speed Number of times the tundra buggy comes each day Number of times the tundra buggy comes each day How many tundra buggies are there at a time How many tundra buggies are there at a time Angle of approach to the bear Angle of approach to the bear September 2007

12. Direct Approach Indirect Approach Angle of Approach Experiment Method: September 2007

13. Tundra Buggy Approach Data The chart below shows the number of bears that reacted to the tundra buggy at a certain distance. Use the data to make a graph. See if there is a pattern. Decide if the data can be useful in deciding how close tundra buggies can get to the bears. NUMBER OF BEARSDISTANCE (meters) 20 - 20 920 -29 1030 -39 940 -49 350 -59 260 -69 170 -79 280 -89 190 -99 1100 - 109 September 2007

14. STOP slide show to analyze data on the previous slide. STOP slide show to analyze data on the previous slide. September 2007

15. Results: Approach Experiments Number of Observations = 186 Bears did not respond 75% of the time. Bear did respond 25% of the time. Of these bears: 39% sit or stand 57% walk away 4% run away September 2007

16. Experiment 2 How does tourist noise affect bear behavior? Quiet living room 20 decibels Normal conversation 50 decibels Heavy truck traffic 80 decibels Tourist sounds - average94 decibels Electric guitar amplifier at 6 inches 115 decibels Jet engine 160 decibels This table is courtesy of Coolmath.com. http://www.coolmath.com This table is courtesy of Coolmath.com. http://www.coolmath.com Playback average was 106 dB September 2007

17. Method for Sound Experiments A tourist noise experiment was conducted only during indirect approaches and only if the bear did not respond to the approach experiment. September 2007

18. Tourist Noise Experiments Method: 66 sound experiments were performed on 49 individual bears A tape of tourist noises was played. The bear’s reaction was recorded. September 2007

19. STOP slide show to analyze data on the previous slide. STOP slide show to analyze data on the previous slide. September 2007

20. Results 94% of bears did not respond to the taped tourist sounds 6% of bears did respond to the taped tourist sounds September 2007

21. Next Steps… Should eco-tourism be allowed in Churchill? What recommendations would you make to the Churchill Town Council? How does the data support your position? September 2007

22. STOP slide show for discussion. STOP slide show for discussion. September 2007

23. Implications: 75% of bears did not respond to vehicle approaches 25% did respond - minimize responses and human induced locomotion by controlling: Direct approaches Speed Recognizing the bear’s behavior the indicate it is responding to the vehicle September 2007

24. Dr. Jane Waterman University of Central Florida, Behavior Education Ph.D. - Zoology, 1994. University of Minnesota. M.Sc. - Zoology, 1985. University of Alberta. B.Sc. (Honours) - Zoology, 1981. University of Guelph. Education Ph.D. - Zoology, 1994. University of Minnesota. M.Sc. - Zoology, 1985. University of Alberta. B.Sc. (Honours) - Zoology, 1981. University of Guelph. Research Objectives Research Objectives Explore and understand behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary relationships within and among species. We use a combination of field methods and lab techniques. September 2007

25. Dr. Jane Waterman University of Central Florida, Behavior Research Projects Research Projects I am currently studying the behavior of two species of ground squirrels living in the Namib desert of Namibia, Africa. I also study male grouping in the polar bear, a marine species in which amicable male groups form. Such all-male groups are quite rare among mammals and thus provide an excellent opportunity to gain important insights into selective forces leading to sociality. I am currently studying the behavior of two species of ground squirrels living in the Namib desert of Namibia, Africa. I also study male grouping in the polar bear, a marine species in which amicable male groups form. Such all-male groups are quite rare among mammals and thus provide an excellent opportunity to gain important insights into selective forces leading to sociality. Human-polar bear interactions are another focus of my research, in order to provide data for the sound management and conservation of this species. Her behavior studies have resulted in self-imposed guidelines for the Churchill bear-watching industry. Human-polar bear interactions are another focus of my research, in order to provide data for the sound management and conservation of this species. Her behavior studies have resulted in self-imposed guidelines for the Churchill bear-watching industry. I am pioneering a "whisker pattern" identification technique and a way of determining a polar bear's weight through digital photos. I am pioneering a "whisker pattern" identification technique and a way of determining a polar bear's weight through digital photos. September 2007