Linking the Movement Behavior of the Laptev Sea Walrus to Sea Ice and Resource Dynamics

ABSTRACT The walrus subspecies inhabiting the Laptev Sea ( Odobenus rosmarus divergens ) remains one of the least studied walrus taxa and occurs in a region undergoing rapid environmental change driven by climate warming and increasing human activity. We conducted the first satellite telemetry study of walruses in this region, tracking 14 individuals from terrestrial haul‐outs in eastern Taymyr, to assess how sea‐ice conditions, benthic biomass, benthic community composition, sex, and age shape behavioral movement states. Walrus movement was consistently structured into two states: localized area‐restricted search (ARS) and directional transit. Individuals showed high persistence in both states, indicating that they maintained either localized search or transit movements over extended periods. Environmental covariates improved model fit, with ice concentration, sea‐ice stage, benthic community composition, and benthic biomass contributing to variation in behavioral states. Ice concentration influenced transitions between ARS and transit, while the probability of ARS increased with higher benthic biomass and was highest in Astarte–Portlandia assemblages. Age and sex were not significant predictors. These findings show that Laptev Sea walrus movement is shaped by the combined effects of sea‐ice conditions and benthic resource structure, highlighting the need to incorporate benthic communities into conservation planning for an increasingly ice‐limited Arctic.