Geophysical Institute presents seascape seminar Oct. 10
October 2, 2012
G. Carleton Ray of the University of Virginia's Department of Environmental Sciences
will present, "Seascape as an Organizing Principle for Evaluating Sea-Ice as Habitat
in Beringia: Consequences for Conservation and Management," at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday,
Oct. 10 in the Elvey Auditorium.
The term “seascape” relates the natural history of ice-dependent pinnipeds to their
sea-ice environments, following concepts of landscape ecology. Seascape habitats are
characterized by heterogeneous but repeatable structures of sea ice.
Demonstrable habitat partitioning among the five species of Beringian pinnipeds is
important for understanding and projecting species’ responses to change under current
climate-change scenarios. The seascape approach also calls for a revised research
agenda. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 required a science-based ecosystem
approach for conservation and management. The MMPA established the concept of optimum
sustainable population for marine mammals as significant functioning elements of ecosystems
and placed ecosystem health as a first priority. It also adopted a precautionary approach
by shifting the burden of proof to the user, thereby restricting human intervention
where such actions might otherwise disadvantageously affect species or populations
of marine mammals. How these policies might be carried out under a scenario of climate
change will be critical for future conservation of Beringian pinnipeds and their ecological
role in the Beringian ecosystem.
Contact Stevie Seibert at akseibert@alaska.edu for more information.