Clouds (top) and water conditions (bottom) are factors that may hamper detection of bears.

<p>Bear locations are indicated in target [(a) and (c)] and reference [(b) and (d)] images with yellow circles. Foam accumulating along the edges of water bodies and changes in water levels between target and reference images are indicated in the bottom pair of shots by red and blue arrows, respectively. Satellite imagery printed under a CC BY license, with permission from DigitalGlobe ©2013.</p

Example of high resolution satellite imagery used to detect polar bears.

<p>Imagery was procured from Rowley Island in Foxe Basin, Nunavut during late summer, 2012. The target imagery (a) was searched for polar bears, and the reference imagery (b) was used for comparison. Polar bears are present in the example target image but absent in the reference image (yellow circles). Landscape features that remain consistent between images, including rocks and substrate, are denoted with red arrows. Satellite imagery printed under a CC BY license, with permission from DigitalGlobe ©2013.</p

Summary of distance sampling analyses.

<p>Results of distance sampling analyses of a polar bear aerial survey conducted in northern Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada during August – September, 2012. Highly supported models (ΔAIC<i>_c</i><3) are presented. In the column Model, the key function is followed by adjustment terms or covariates (VIS =  visibility; poor/fair (e.g., glare, light fog or rain) or excellent; LIGHT =  light conditions; overcast, mostly cloudy, or partly cloudy/clear). ESW =  Effective strip width (meters). p =  Detection probability.  =  Abundance estimate. Goodness of Fit metrics: C-S =  Chi-squared; K-S =  Kolmogorov-Smirnov; C-vM =  Cramér-von Mises.</p

Appendix D. An analysis of movement data from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears instrumented with radio-collars.

An analysis of movement data from southern Beaufort Sea polar bears instrumented with radio-collars

Appendix A. Definitions of covariates and covariate combinations (groups) used to model survival and recapture probabilities of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears.

Definitions of covariates and covariate combinations (groups) used to model survival and recapture probabilities of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears

Appendix E. Projected trends in the abundance of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears based on estimated survival rates.

Projected trends in the abundance of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears based on estimated survival rates

Appendix B. Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear capture statistics.

Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear capture statistics

Appendix F. The covariate Cap-procliv used to model heterogeneous recapture probabilities of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears.

The covariate Cap-procliv used to model heterogeneous recapture probabilities of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears

Appendix C. Model-averaged estimates of recapture probabilities for southern Beaufort Sea polar bears and total model weights associated with recapture probability covariate structures.

Model-averaged estimates of recapture probabilities for southern Beaufort Sea polar bears and total model weights associated with recapture probability covariate structures