Winter Distribution of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) in the Barrow Strait Area, Northwest Territories, Determined by Underwater Vocalizations

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Abstract
In order to assess underice distribution of ringed seals (P. hispida) in winter, recordings were made from 23-30 April 1982 at 32 sites chosen to represent different habitats in the High Arctic. By regressing the vocalization rate at each site against variables for habitat quality, sites in smooth interisland channels showed significantly more vocalizations than sites in bays, and sites with frequent human activity had vocalization rates similar to the overall average. Although differences in vocalization rates correlated with some measured and estimated habitat variables, there was too much overlap between sites for vocalization rate alone to be useful in separating suitable and unsuitable pupping habitat. Recordings made at 1 site over 4 days showed a diel cycle in which vocalization rate was highest from .apprx. 08:30-16:30 and lowest at night.