Low density of top predators (seabirds and marine mammals) in the high Arctic pack ice

The at-sea distribution of top predators, seabirds and marine mammals, was determined in the high Arctic pack ice on board the icebreaker RV Polarstern in July to September 2014. In total, 1,620 transect counts were realised, lasting 30 min each. The five most numerous seabird species represented 74% of the total of 15,150 individuals registered: kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, fulmar Fulmarus glacialis, puffin Fratercula arctica, Ross’s gull Rhodostethia rosea, and little auk Alle alle. Eight cetacean species were tallied for a total of 330 individuals, mainly white-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris and fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. Five pinniped species were represented by a total of 55 individuals and the polar bear Ursus maritimus was represented by 12 individuals. Four main geographical zones were identified: from Tromsø to the outer marginal ice zone (OMIZ), the Arctic pack ice (close pack ice, CPI), the end of Lomonosov Ridge off Siberia, and the route off Siberia and northern Norway. Important differences were detected between zones, both in species composition and in individual abundance. Low numbers of species and high proportion of individuals for some of them can be considered to reflect very low biodiversity. Numbers encountered in zones 2 to 4 were very low in comparison with other European Arctic seas. The observed differences showed strong patterns

Summer social structure of crabeater seal <i>Lobodon carcinophaga</i> in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

During the PS75 expedition of ice-breaking RV Polarstern in the Amundsen Sea, in February–March 2010, we studied the at-sea quantitative distribution of the “upper trophic levels,” seabirds and marine mammals. In the Amundsen Sea Embayment, 14,200 pinnipeds belonging to four species were recorded (2100 during 670 half-hour transect counts from the bridge and 12,100 during 50 h of helicopter flight). Crabeater seal Lobodon carcinophaga represented more than 97 % of the total. Two types of major aggregations of crabeaters were noted: on the one hand, very large groups hauled out on the pack ice, composed mainly of adults/bachelors and very few calves. On the other hand, swimming pods of calves were accompanied by one or two leading adults around icebergs. Our interpretation is that, after the beginning of the reproduction period with trios (cow, calf and future father) scattered on pack ice, such pods can be considered the last step of the breeding cycle

Engaging women, peace, and security in defence: the role of the NATO committee on gender perspectives

\ua9 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor &amp; Francis Group.As NATO marks its 75th anniversary it is facing a future more uncertain than at any point since the end of the Cold War. The European security environment is changed and challenged by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, while the Israel-Gaza war poses further challenges. Given this critical moment, this article offers a strategic intervention to highlight and reinforce the essential role of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in defence and deterrence, including through the integration of a gender perspective, for NATO members and partners. It does so by bringing together former Chairs of the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) into conversation about the continued importance of NATO’s oldest committee in ensuring NATO’s future approach to WPS is fit for purpose. Drawing upon their reflections and insights, we recommend policy points to embed and advance WPS and the gender perspective in NATO’s response to this new security environment