title: Use of glacial fronts by narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in West Greenland.
abstract: Glacial fronts are important summer habitat for narwhals (Monodon monoceros); however, no studies have quantified which glacial properties attract whales. We investigated the importance of glacial habitats using telemetry data from n = 15 whales tagged in September of 1993, 1994, 2006 and 2007 in Melville Bay, West Greenland. For 41 marine-terminating glaciers, we estimated (i) narwhal presence/absence, (ii) number of 24 h periods spent at glaciers and (iii) the fraction of narwhals that visited each glacier (at 5, 7 and 10 km) in autumn. We also compiled data on glacier width, ice thickness, ice velocity, front advance/retreat, area and extent of iceberg discharge, bathymetry, subglacial freshwater run-off and sediment flux. Narwhal use of glacial habitats expanded in the 2000s probably due to reduced summer fast ice and later autumn freeze-up. Using a generalized multivariate framework, glacier ice front thickness (vertical height in the water column) was a significant covariate in all models. A negative relationship with glacier velocity was included in several models and glacier front width was a significant predictor in the 2000s. Results suggest narwhals prefer glaciers with potential for higher ambient freshwater melt over glaciers with silt-laden discharge. This may represent a preference for summer freshwater habitat, similar to other Arctic monodontids.
authors: Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA klaidre@uw.edu.
authors: Kristin L
authors: 0000-0002-2787-650X
authors: KL
authors: Laidre
authors: Geographical Sciences and Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Twila
authors: T
authors: Moon
authors: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Donna D W
authors: DD
authors: Hauser
authors: Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: McGovern
authors: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland.
authors: Mads Peter
authors: MP
authors: Heide-Jørgensen
authors: Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Dietz
authors: Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D017753:Ecosystem; D005618:Fresh Water; D006116:Greenland; D046448:Ice Cover; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D012621:Seasons; D014907:Whales / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Greenland; glacier; narwhal