This programme was designed to explore the dynamics of bearded seal foraging and the effects of these activities on benthic communities of the Arctic. We planned to : 1) complete data collection from captive bearded seal experiments in one final set of trials that includes pressure measurements (and also finish analysing and writing up the previously commenced anatomical investigations of whisker morphology and anatomy, and biokinematic studies with the captive animals); 2) deploy cameras on bearded seals in Kongsfjorden to document their foraging activities and its physical impacts on the substrate in the wild; 3) explore the relationship between the animals actual behaviour and assessments of behaviour based on dive profiles alone; 4) explore diet via isotope analyses of various tissues, and fatty acid profiles in bearded seals compared to potential prey and 5) directly explore benthic community assemblages at, near and outside bearded seal foraging areas in order to assess the impacts of bearded seal feeding on the benthic communities composition and productivity in the Arctic. In addition we will deploy state-of-the-art satellite tags in order to study the ontogeny of diving and distribution. The pup handling will also permit data collection for MOSJ - adding to our pup growth, condition and pup-production estimates.
Ice conditions and technical difficulties limited some aspects of our plans in the field. But, we did complete the captive foraging studies and we collected valuable data about climate change responses by this species! Field work in this programme is complete and lab and statistical analyses are underway on all data elements collected.

Field work is completed for this programme – but data-based MSc positions are possible.