161 



Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Needs for Expanded Research 



Program for Marine Mammals 



POLAR bear research 



The Bureau's polar bear research program was funded at $70,000 in F.Y. 1968. 

 The original request was for $160,000 which would have included studies on 

 daily and seasonal movements as well as studies of distribution, abundance and 

 population composition. The program for F.Y. 1972 has increased to $79,000. 

 Considerable work has been accomplished, as previously reported, m close co- 

 operation with other countries and especially with the Alaska Department of 

 Fish and Game. The current need is for expansion of the program, especially in 

 the area of ecological studies, with emphasis on reproduction and population 



dynamics. . 11^.^4. 



At the present funding level it is possible to continue tagging, collect data on 

 movements of tagged bears, and to study morphological characteristics and 

 growth rates. All these data contribute to the understanding of whether there 

 are discrete sub-populations of polars in the Alaskan Arctic region, and by in- 

 ference whether hunting in the Alaskan area has a noticeable effect on popula- 

 tions elsewhere. ^ ^ 



At the present funding level, it is not pos.sible to perfect and carry out 

 promising censusing techniques which are further needed to asses the effects 



of hunting. . ^ ^ . . .. 



Still further, there is a need to conduct exploratory studies of certain pesticide 

 and heavy metal residues in animals eaten by the Alaskan natives. 



An additional amount of $100,000 per year for polar bear research would 

 permit progress in all these areas, and would likely reduce the time required 

 to distinguish sub-populations of polar bears in the Alaskan area from about 

 8 to about 4 more years. 



With these funds, two additional biologists would be needed. 



WALRUS research 



Walrus research has been conducted in the past. Results are being prepared 

 as a technical manu.script. There is need, however, to continue monitoring of 

 walrus populations and particularly to expand the level of such surveys. Aerial 

 surveys of winter populations walrus need to be conducted more frequently than 

 in the past. Continued research with emphasis on reproduction and population 

 dynamics is needed. Additional funds required for this expanded program would 

 be $85,000 which would be used for one additional wildlife biologist and for 

 additional aircraft charter. 



SEA OTTER RESEARCH 



With expanded range of the sea otter (through transplants to the coast of 

 northwestern United States) and with iwtential environmental problems related 

 to the expansion of development in the heart of the range of the sea otter 

 (chiefly oil development) there is a continuing need for detailed information on 

 populations of this species. Current levels of research on the sea otter could 

 meaningfully be expanded by the addition of a full-time wildlife biologist to work 

 specifically on iwpulation dynamics and trends. Additional funds in the amount 

 of $35,000 would be required. 



BIOI N STRU MEN TATION 



For population trend information on all marine mammal species there is a 

 significant potential for use of bio-instrumentation as well as for satellite track- 

 ing. Some use of these tools has been made, notably of radio-tracking with 

 polar bears. Our Bureau is cooperating actively with NASA on EROS and other 

 satellite programs. Such expanded activity as related to polar bears, sea otters, 

 and walrus as well as other marine mammals will depend upon development of 

 technologies. Funds to support such activity, and to make full use of this 

 potential would involve $25,000 (additional funding might be provided by 

 NASA. ) 



MUSEUM STUDIES 



A much-needed contribution to the knowledge of marine mammals could be 

 made by conducting detailed studies of the specimens of marine mammals avail- 

 able in the National Museum, as well as in other collections. This approach would 

 include studies of taxonomy, morphology, and distribution based on specimens 



