Polar Research
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar
<p><em>Polar Research</em> is the international, peer-reviewed journal of the Norwegian Polar Institute. The scope of <em>Polar Research</em> encompasses research in all scientific disciplines relevant to the polar regions. These include, but are not limited to, the subfields of biology, ecology, geology, oceanography, glaciology and atmospheric science. Submissions from the social sciences and those focusing on polar management and policy issues are welcome. Contributions about Antarctica are particularly encouraged.</p>Norwegian Polar Instituteen-USPolar Research1751-8369<p><span style="color: #4b7d92;">Authors contributing to Polar Research retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to the Norwegian Polar Institute. Read the journal's full <a href="https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/openaccess">Copyright- and Licensing Policy</a>.</span></p>First recorded ice entrapment of a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) in east Greenland
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/9844
<p>Beluga whales are rare along the coast of east Greenland and the closest recognized stock occurs around Svalbard. Here we report on an ice entrapment of an adult beluga whale (<em>Delphinapterus leucas</em>) in north-east Greenland. The whale was observed entrapped in the fast ice on 21 April 2023 in Loch Fyne (73°54’N, 21°51’W) during a visual aerial survey for polar bears (<em>Ursus maritimus</em>). The whale was located >100 km from open water (i.e., pack ice) and appeared in poor body condition. A literature review back to the early 1900s failed to produce any other records of beluga whale ice entrapments in east Greenland.</p>Kristin L. LaidreJasmine WareMarie ZahnPeter HegelundJon Aars
Copyright (c) 2024 Kristin L. Laidre, Jasmine Ware, Marie Zahn, Peter Hegelund, Jon Aars
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
2024-02-282024-02-284310.33265/polar.v43.9844Cretaceous–Palaeogene lobsters, <em>Hoploparia stokesi</em> (Weller, 1903), from Antarctica: historical review, and transfer of specimens from the United States Polar Rock Repository
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/9866
<p>The nephropid lobster <em>Hoploparia stokesi</em> (Weller 1903a) is widely distributed among the islands of the Antarctic Peninsula, where it occurs in strata of Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) to Palaeogene (Paleocene) age. Specimens of <em>H. stokesi</em> collected during expeditions in the 1980s that were in the collection of the United States Polar Rock Repository at The Ohio State University have been transferred to the Orton Geological Museum, joining other geological collections from Antarctica. Some of the transferred specimens are voucher specimens described or illustrated in earlier published work.</p>Loren E. BabcockRodney F. FeldmannAnne Grunow
Copyright (c) 2024 Loren E. Babcock, Rodney F. Feldmann, Anne Grunow
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
2024-02-162024-02-164310.33265/polar.v43.9866Garbage consumption by Arctic terrestrial predators in one of the most pristine land areas on Earth
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/9756
<p>Garbage may cause substantial environmental perturbations, in part because of its consumption by wildlife. Such consumption may have direct health implications for animals and may also influence trophic relationships. Even in pristine Arctic ecosystems, wildlife feeding in marine environments consume garbage in the form of plastic debris transported by ocean currents. We show that Arctic wildlife in pristine terrestrial environments may also ingest garbage or food items derived from abandoned camp sites. We found the remains of a chocolate wrapper and a milk powder bag in two Arctic fox (<em>Vulpes lagopus</em>) scats and a piece of cloth in an Arctic wolf (<em>Canis lupus arctos</em>) scat collected near Nares Strait, northern Greenland, one of the most pristine terrestrial wilderness regions on Earth. Found on Washington Land and associated with long-abandoned camp sites, these three scats were among 657 Arctic fox scats and 92 wolf scats collected as part of a larger study. Our study demonstrates that these two highly opportunistic predators managed to consume garbage despite the almost complete lack of human activity in this High-Arctic region. Our results highlight that abandoned anthropogenic material in the High Arctic may function as a source of garbage for local terrestrial wildlife over extended time periods, and that garbage consumption may become a potential issue if human activity in remote Arctic regions increases.</p>Araceli Gort-EsteveMuzit AbrhamChristian CarøeJohannes MåsvikenSusana FreireNicolas LecomtePatrícia PečnerováAnders AngerbjörnJordi Bartolomé FilellaKarin NorénFredrik Dalerum
Copyright (c) 2024 Araceli Gort-Esteve, Muzit Abrham, Christian Carøe, Johannes Måsviken, Susana Freire, Nicolas Lecomte, Patrícia Pečnerová, Anders Angerbjörn, Jordi Bartolomé Filella, Karin Norén, Fredrik Dalerum
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
2024-01-052024-01-054310.33265/polar.v43.9756