Durner, George M. (ORCID: 0000-0002-3370-1191) Atwood, Todd C. (ORCID: 0000-0002-1971-3110) 20180507 vector digital data Mapping Data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Maternal Den Habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska ver 2.0, November 2021 Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Suggested Citation: Durner, G.M., Atwood T.C., 2018, Mapping data of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) maternal den habitat, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska (ver 2.0, November 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7DJ5DXT https://doi.org/10.5066/F7DJ5DXT These are geospatial data that characterize the distribution of polar bear denning habitat on the coastal plain of northern Alaska between the Colville River and the Alaska/Canada border. One dataset is included in this data package, it is vector geospatial data of putative denning habitat. The vector data are provided in both ESRI shapefile and Keyhole Markup Language (KML) formats. Den habitat is defined as abrupt landscape features (e.g., coastal and riverbanks, lake shores) that are likely to accumulate snow to a depth sufficient for polar bears to build a maternal den (i.e., > 1 meter deep). These data were generated to provide vector geospatial data of putative denning habitat for polar bears on the Arctic coastal plain of Alaska. This dataset is part of a USGS data release that includes three vector geospatial datasets of putative polar bear denning habitat from: (1) National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A), (2) the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and (3) the eastern Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska between the Colville River and the Alaska/Canada border. Each dataset was derived at different times, with different objectives, and different techniques (documented in the respective metadata records). They have been available separately from the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center. They are collected here for distribution in a single data release. 2005 observed Complete None planned Coastal plain of northern Alaska adjacent to the Beaufort Sea, between the Colville River and the United States border with Canada -150.5 -141.0 70.6 69.5 USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:ASC413 ISO 19115 Topic Category Biota Environment NASA GCMD Earth Science Animals/Vertebrates Mammals Carnivores Bears Species life history Terrestrial ecosystems Land surface Topography USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus Marine mammals Habitat selection Denning behavior Reproductive behavior USGS Thesaurus Wildlife Tundra ecosystems Remote sensing None Polar Bear Ursus maritimus Denning habitat Photo-derived USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Alaska Beaufort Sea USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) Arctic National Wildlife Refuge None North Slope None Animals Mammals Polar Bear ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Unknown online database online ITIS-North America Taxonomic details retrieved October 15, 2021, from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK Polar bear den sites were identified by skilled observers in the field. Kingdom Animalia Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Infraphylum Gnathostomata Superclass Tetrapoda Class Mammalia Subclass Theria Infraclass Eutheria Order Carnivora Suborder Caniformia Family Ursidae Genus Ursus Species Ursus maritimus Polar Bear TSN 180542 No access constraints. No use constraints. We request that the suggested citation of this USGS data release be included in any publications that reference or utilize these data. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov ESRI ArcMap 10.4 GIS application; Windows 10 OS Durner, G.M. Atwood, T.C. 2018 document Open File Report 2018-1083 online U.S. Geological Survey Durner, G.M., Atwood, T.C., 2018, A comparison of photo-interpreted and IfSAR-derived maps of polar bear denning habitat for the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: U.S Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2018–1083, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181083 https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181083 Durner, G.M. Amstrup, S.C. Ambrosius, K.J. 2001 journal article Arctic 54(2):115-121 online Arctic Institute of North America Durner, G.M., Amstrup, S.C., Ambrosius, K.J., 2001. Remote identification of polar bear maternal den habitat in northern Alaska: Arctic 54(2):115−121. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic770 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic770 Durner, G.M. Amstrup, S.C. Ambrosius, K.J. 2006 journal article Arctic 59(1):31-36 online Arctic Institute of North America Durner, G.M., Amstrup, S.C., Ambrosius, K.J., 2006. Polar bear maternal den habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: Arctic 59(1):31−36. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic361 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic361 Durner, G.M. Simac, K. Amstrup, S.C. 2013 journal article Arctic 66(2):197–206 online Arctic Institute of North America Durner, G.M., Simac, K., Amstrup, S.C., 2013. Mapping polar bear maternal denning habitat in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska with an IfSAR digital terrain model. Arctic 66(2):197–206. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4291 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4291 Liston, G.E. Perham, C.J. Shideler, R.T. Cheuvront, A.N. 2016 journal article Ecological Modeling 320:114-134 online Elsevier Liston, G.E., Perham, C.J., Schideler, R.T., Cheuvront, A.N., 2016. Modeling snowdrift habitat for polar bear dens. Ecological Modelling 320:114-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.09.010 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.09.010 Wilson, R.R. Durner, G.M. 2020 journal article Journal of Wildlife Management 84(2):201-212 online Wiley Wilson, R.R., Durner, G.M., 2020. Seismic survey design and effects on maternal polar bear dens. Journal of Wildlife Management 84(2):201–212. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21800 https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21800 Wilson, R.R. Durner, G.M. 2020 journal article Journal of Wildlife Management 84(5):1022-1024 online Wiley Wilson, R.R., Durner, G.M., 2020. Erratum: Seismic survey design and effects on maternal polar bear dens. Journal of Wildlife Management 84(5):1022-1024. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21889 https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21889 Colville River (151° W) to the Tamayariak River (145° 30' W): 88% of bank habitat was identified correctly. Mapped habitat agrees closely with the distribution of actual polar bear dens. Of 15 known dens that were located inside the area of aerial photographs, 12 dens (80%) were within 135 m of mapped den habitat (Durner et al 2001). Canning River (146° W) to the Canadian border (141° W): 91.5% of bank denning habitats on the ANWR coastal plain were correctly identified. Thirty-two of 38 known dens were within 145 m of mapped den habitat (Durner et al 2006). Attribute values fall within expected ranges. The dataset is complete. Mean positional accuracy of line data was 32.2 m (standard deviation = 29.2 m, range = 0.0-145 m). METHODS - LAB: Colville River (151° W) to the Tamayariak River (145° 30' W): In addition to the standard-resolution photos described above, we examined 3000 aerial photographs (scale: 2.56 cm = 457.2 m [1 inch = 1500 feet]) taken along east/west transects over Alaskan coastal areas from the Colville River east to the Tamayariak River. The photos, provided by BP Exploration - Alaska, were taken as a part of standard exploratory procedures. Coverage included the area from the coastline to a mean 29 km inland (range 6.5-50.7 km; total area: 6335 km2). Photos were taken between 1981 and 1995 by twin-engine turbocharged aircraft (Cessna 320, Cessna 310, or Piper Aztec) flown at 2743 m (9000 feet) above mean terrain with a certified cartographic camera (15.4 cm [6 inch] focal length). Photo interpretation was done with a pocket stereoscope. Vegetation patterns also helped to identify topographic relief. We did not map sand dunes or pingos because their orientation and exposure to prevailing winds generally preclude sufficient snow accumulation. As well, anthropogenic landscape features were not mapped. Suspected banks of the dimensions required for denning were located and drawn on aerial photos as lines or arcs. Arcs were transferred into Interactive Graphics Design Software (IGDS) MicroStation (ver. 5, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Alabama) digital files by a CAD operator, either through direct digitization of photos, or by placement of lines along well-defined map features, such as shorelines or mapped bluffs. The final digital map of suspected den habitat was converted to ARC/INFO format (ver. 7.0.2, ESRI, Inc., Redlands, California). Additional details available in Durner et al. 2001. Canning River (146° W) east to the Canadian border (141° W): We examined 1655 high-resolution color aerial photographs (scale: 1 cm = 178.6 m) for den habitat. Photos were taken in 1981 with a certified cartographic camera (15.4 cm focal length), along east/west transects between the Canning River and the Canadian border, from a twin-engine turbocharged aircraft (Cessna 320, Cessna 310, or Piper Aztec) flown at 2743 m above mean terrain level. All photos were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Den habitat was located on the photos with a pocket stereoscope and by interpretation of vegetation patterns. Linear features that showed elevation changes of 1 m or more were annotated on photos. Human-made landscape features, as well as sand dunes and pingos, were not mapped. Once identified on photos, den habitat was digitized and transferred to 1:63 360 base maps as line features through computer-aided drafting. The final format was provided as ARCVIEW shapefiles (ESRI, Redlands, California). Additional details available in Durner et al. 2006. We examined photos that included known den sites we had visited, to confirm that features recorded at den sites could be identified from the photos. Next, we identified similar features across the study area by examining all photos. Photo interpretation was done with a pocket stereoscope. Vegetation patterns also helped to identify topographic relief. We did not map sand dunes or pingos because their orientation and exposure to prevailing winds generally preclude sufficient snow accumulation. As well, anthropogenic landscape features were not mapped. Suspected banks of the dimensions required for denning were located and drawn on aerial photos as lines or arcs. Arcs were transferred into Interactive Graphics Design Software (IGDS) MicroStation (ver. 5, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Alabama) digital files by a CAD operator, either through direct digitization of photos, or by placement of lines along well-defined map features, such as shorelines or mapped bluffs. The final digital map of suspected den habitat was converted to ARC/INFO format (ver. 7.0.2, ESRI, Inc., Redlands, California). Additional details about methods used are described in Durner et al. 2001 and Durner et al. 2006). Aerial Photographs Unknown LITERATURE CITED: Durner, G.M., Amstrup, S.C., Ambrosius, K.J., 2001. Remote identification of polar bear maternal den habitat in northern Alaska: Arctic 54(2):115−121. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic770 Durner, G.M., Amstrup, S.C., Fischbach, A.S. 2003. Habitat characteristics of polar bear terrestrial maternal den sites in northern Alaska. Arctic 56(1):55-62. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic602 Durner, G.M., Amstrup, S.C., Ambrosius, K.J., 2006. Polar bear maternal den habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: Arctic 59(1):31−36. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic361 Unknown Vector 0.001 0.001 Decimal degrees North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27) Clarke 1866 6378206.4 294.9786982 polarBear_denHabitat_eastACP Vector geospatial file with polylines delineating putative denning habitat identified using manual interpretation of high-resolution aerial photos of the coastal plain of northern Alaska between the Colville River and the Alaska/Canada border. Attribute file provides descriptive and identifying information about putative denning habitat segments. Presented in both ESRI shapefile (SHP) and Keyhole Markup Language (KML) formats. Author defined FID Internal feature number ESRI Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. FNODE_ From Node: automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number ESRI Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number TNODE_ To Node: automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number ESRI Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number LPOLY_ Left Polygon: automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number ESRI Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number RPOLY_ Right Polygon: automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number ESRI Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number LENGTH Length of each den habitat segment. Undefined units automatically generated internal units from unprojected data. ESRI 0.0000341 7.5132198 DENHAB_ Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number. ESRI 1 7590 DENHAB_ID Automatically generated Arc/GIS assigned internal number. ESRI 1 7589 DESCRIPT Description of physical feature used to designate den habitat. Author defined 3' Bluffs Physical feature is a bluff > 1 m in height Author defined Physical Features that May Catch & Hold 3' or More of Snow Physical feature that may catch and hold >= 1 m of snow Author defined Project Limits Project Limits Author defined INT_DATE Date range of processing and photo interpretation Author defined Summer of 1996 through Summer of 1997 Photo interpretation occurred between summer of 1996 and summer of 1997 Author defined Winter 1997 - 1998 Photo interpretation occurred between winter of 1997 and winter of 1998 Author defined 2003 Photo interpretation occurred during the year 2003 Author defined Revised in 2003 Photo interpretation revised during the year 2003 Author defined N/A Date range not provided Author defined AREA Location names of the segment of the Arctic Coastal Plain where the den habitat occurs. Author defined Canning River to Canadian Border Canning River to Canadian Border; approximately (146° W - 141° W) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Canning River to Tamayariak River Canning River to Tamayariak River; approximately (146° W - 145° 30' W) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Kalubik Creek to Canadain Border Kalubik Creek to Canadian Border; approximately (150° W - 141° W) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Kalubik Creek to Tamayariak River Kalubik Creek to Tamayariak River; approximately (150° W - 145° 30' W) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) N/A Location names not provided Author defined U.S. Geological Survey USGS ScienceBase Team Mailing and Physical

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Denver Colorado 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source of these data, distributed by ScienceBase (a USGS Trusted Digital Repository). Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Tabular data in CSV format; FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7DJ5DXT None 20250102 U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) FGDC-STD-001.1-1999