the effects of ecotourism on polar bear behavior gillian eckhardt, msc. student september 2007

THE EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON POLAR THE EFFECTS OF ECOTOURISM ON POLAR BEAR BEHAVIORBEAR BEHAVIOR

Gillian Eckhardt, MSc. studentSeptember 2007September 2007

Potential human impacts on polar bears:

• PollutionPollution• Climate changeClimate change• HuntingHunting• Industrial activityIndustrial activity• TourismTourism

September 2007September 2007

Tourism Up to10,000 Up to10,000

tourists per yeartourists per year• vehiclesvehicles• ““hotels”hotels”• helicoptershelicopters


Vehicles(Tundra Buggies,

personal vehicles, or buses)

Hotels


Objective of the Experiments

Investigate:Investigate: tourist vehiclestourist vehicles

(movements)(movements) tourist behavior tourist behavior

(noise)(noise)


Experiment

How does the How does the tourist tundra tourist tundra buggy affect polar buggy affect polar bear behavior?bear behavior?

Variables:Variables: Movement of the Movement of the

tundra buggytundra buggy

Tourist behavior Tourist behavior

(noise)(noise)


• Collect data on bear behavior when the vehicle approaches

• Videotape the bears’ reactions

Methods


How Do Bears Behave When Tundra How Do Bears Behave When Tundra Buggies Or Vehicles Are Present ?Buggies Or Vehicles Are Present ?


Tundra Buggy Approach Experiments:Tundra Buggy Approach Experiments:

A response is defined as a A response is defined as a whole body change such whole body change such as sitting up, walking away as sitting up, walking away or running awayor running away

Question: Question:

Do bears respond to tundra buggy or vehicle approaches? Do bears respond to tundra buggy or vehicle approaches?

What is a “response”?What is a “response”?


Vehicle Approach Experiments:Vehicle Approach Experiments:

Do bears respond to Do bears respond to tundra buggies or tundra buggies or vehicles?vehicles?

If so, at what distance If so, at what distance do they respond?do they respond?

Does this distance Does this distance change over time?change over time?


What variables might affectWhat variables might affect the bears’ response? the bears’ response?

Tundra buggy speedTundra buggy speed Number of times the tundra buggy Number of times the tundra buggy

comes each daycomes each day How many tundra buggies are there at a How many tundra buggies are there at a

time time Angle of approach to the bearAngle of approach to the bear


Direct Approach

Indirect Approach

Angle of Approach Experiment

Method:


Tundra Buggy Approach DataTundra Buggy Approach DataThe chart below shows the number of bears that reacted to The chart below shows the number of bears that reacted to

the tundra buggy at a certain distance. Use the data to make 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 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 useful in deciding how close tundra buggies can get to the

bears.bears.NUMBER OF BEARS DISTANCE (meters)

2 0 - 20

9 20 -29

10 30 -39

9 40 -49

3 50 -59

2 60 -69

1 70 -79

2 80 -89

1 90 -99

1 100 - 109


STOP slide show to STOP slide show to analyze data on the analyze data on the previous slide. previous slide.


Results: Approach ExperimentsResults: Approach Experiments

Number of Observations = 186

Bears did not respond75% of the time.

Bear did respond 25% of the time. Of these bears:

• 39% sit or stand

• 57% walk away

• 4% run away


Experiment 2Experiment 2

How does tourist noise affect How does tourist noise affect bear behavior?bear behavior?

Quiet living room Quiet living room 20 decibels20 decibelsNormal conversation Normal conversation 50 decibels50 decibelsHeavy truck traffic Heavy truck traffic 80 decibels80 decibelsTourist sounds - average 94 decibelsElectric guitar amplifier at 6 inches Electric guitar amplifier at 6 inches 115 decibels115 decibelsJet engine Jet engine 160 decibels160 decibels

This table is courtesy of Coolmath.com. This table is courtesy of Coolmath.com. http://www.coolmath.comhttp://www.coolmath.com

Playback average was 106 dBPlayback average was 106 dB


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.


Tourist Noise ExperimentsMethod:

• 66 sound experiments were performed on 49 individual bears

• A tape of tourist noises was played.

• The bear’s reaction was recorded.


STOP slide show to STOP slide show to analyze data on the analyze data on the previous slide. previous slide.


ResultsResults

• 94% of bears did not respond to the taped tourist sounds

• 6% of bears did respond to the taped tourist sounds


Next Steps…Next Steps…

Should eco-tourism be allowed in Should eco-tourism be allowed in Churchill?Churchill?

What recommendations would you What recommendations would you make to the Churchill Town Council?make to the Churchill Town Council?

How does the data support your How does the data support your position?position?


STOP slide show for STOP slide show for discussion. discussion.


Implications: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


Dr. Jane WatermanDr. Jane WatermanUniversity of Central Florida, University of Central Florida,

BehaviorBehavior

EducationEducation Ph.D. - Zoology, 1994. University of Ph.D. - Zoology, 1994. University of Minnesota.Minnesota.M.Sc. - Zoology, 1985. University of Alberta.M.Sc. - Zoology, 1985. University of Alberta.B.Sc. (Honours) - Zoology, 1981. University of B.Sc. (Honours) - Zoology, 1981. University of Guelph. Guelph.

Research ObjectivesResearch Objectives

Explore and understand behavioral, Explore and understand behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary relationships within ecological, and evolutionary relationships within and among species. and among species.

We use a combination of field methods and lab We use a combination of field methods and lab techniques. techniques.


Dr. Jane WatermanDr. Jane WatermanUniversity of Central Florida, University of Central Florida,

BehaviorBehavior

Research ProjectsResearch Projects I am currently studying the behavior of two species of I am currently studying the behavior of two species of

ground squirrels living in the Namib desert of Namibia, ground squirrels living in the Namib desert of Namibia, Africa. I also study male grouping in the polar bear, a Africa. I also study male grouping in the polar bear, a marine species in which amicable male groups form. Such marine species in which amicable male groups form. Such all-male groups are quite rare among mammals and thus all-male groups are quite rare among mammals and thus provide an excellent opportunity to gain important insights provide an excellent opportunity to gain important insights into selective forces leading to sociality. into selective forces leading to sociality.

Human-polar bear interactions are another focus of my Human-polar bear interactions are another focus of my research, in order to provide data for the sound research, in order to provide data for the sound management and conservation of this species. Her behavior management and conservation of this species. Her behavior studies have resulted in self-imposed guidelines for the studies have resulted in self-imposed guidelines for the Churchill bear-watching industry. Churchill bear-watching industry.

I am pioneering a "whisker pattern" identification technique I am pioneering a "whisker pattern" identification technique and a way of determining a polar bear's weight through and a way of determining a polar bear's weight through digital photos.digital photos.


the effects of ecotourism on polar bear behavior gillian eckhardt, msc. student september 2007

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