17 July 2024: New study on site fidelity of walruses in Svalbard

Lonnie Mikkelsen and co-authors (2024) investigated the behaviour of 40 male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus), which they tagged with GPSs in the Svalbard Archipelago. The aim of this study was to examine how this Arctic species moves and uses habitats throughout the seasons, particularly in relation to sea ice coverage. 

They discovered that walruses show clear seasonal migratory behaviour between summer foraging and winter breeding areas, with signs of high site fidelity, returning to the same areas every year, despite the variability in sea ice conditions. The data also reveal variations between the behaviour of individual walruses showing significant differences in movement and site usage. This could be influenced by environmental conditions and possibly individual preferences. 

Understanding the tendency of walruses to return to the same place annually and their movement patterns within seasons is crucial for conservation efforts, especially in the context of changing environmental conditions in the Arctic. These data can help understand and predict how walruses might respond to changes in their habitat.  

You can read the full article by Mikkelsen et al. here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66370-w.

Photo credit: Christian K. Lydersen