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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processes Jointly Explain Mesopredator Movement and Foraging Ecology.

Katie R N Florko¹, Tyler R Ross², Steven H Ferguson^3,4

¹Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Ecology Letters

|March 14, 2026

Summary

Ringed seals balance predation risk and food availability. Polar bear presence limits seal movement and foraging, but seals forage more in risky areas with high prey diversity.

Keywords:

Arctic foraging behaviour habitat selection landscape of fear non‐consumptive effects polar bear (Ursus maritimus)predator–prey dynamics ringed seal (Pusa hispida)satellite telemetry trophic interactions

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Wildlife Conservation
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Predator-prey dynamics significantly influence animal behavior and distribution.
Understanding risk-reward tradeoffs is crucial for managing species, especially in changing environments.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how polar bear predation risk and fish prey availability affect ringed seal habitat selection, movement, and foraging.
To assess the combined impact of top-down and bottom-up factors on mesopredator behavior.

Main Methods:

Analysis of over 70,000 dives and 10,000 locations from 26 ringed seals.
Modeling of polar bear habitat selection (top-down) and fish diversity (bottom-up).
Comparison of seal habitat use with and without considering predation risk.

Main Results:

Polar bear presence was found to restrict ringed seal movement and reduce foraging time.
Seals exhibited increased presence and dive duration in high-risk areas when prey diversity was high.
Habitat models that excluded polar bear influence overestimated ringed seal core space use.

Conclusions:

Ringed seals dynamically adjust their behavior to balance the risks of predation with the need for foraging.
Predation risk from polar bears significantly shapes ringed seal ecology, impacting their movement and foraging success.
Accurate ecological models must incorporate multiple predator-prey interactions for effective conservation and management.