This study uses cetacean sighting data, acquired via a citizen science programme, to update distributions and spatial trends of whales and dolphins in waters around the Svalbard Archipelago during the period 2005–2019. Distributions, based on kernel density estimates, from an early period (2005–2019) and a recent period (2015–19) were compared to identify potential shifts in distribution in this area, which is experiencing rapid warming and concomitant sea-ice losses. Among the three Arctic endemic cetaceans, white whales (Delphinapterus leucas, also known as beluga) had a stable, coastal distribution throughout the study, whereas narwhals (Monodon monoceros) and bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were observed only north of the archipelago, but with increasing frequency during the recent period. White-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) had a stable distribution along the continental shelf break, west and south of Svalbard. Sperm whale observations shifted from west of Bjørnøya during the early period to being concentrated around the north end of Prins Karls Forland, west of Spitsbergen during the recent period. The four summer-resident baleen whales—blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)—have shifted their distributions from the continental shelf break west of Spitsbergen during the early period into fjords and coastal areas during the recent period. These changes coincide with increased inflows of Atlantic Water into the fjords along the west coast of Spitsbergen and across the north of the archipelago.

本研究使用通过公民科学计划获得的鲸目动物目击数据来更新 2005-2019 年期间斯瓦尔巴群岛周围水域中鲸鱼和海豚的分布和空间趋势。根据核密度估计，比较了早期（2005-2019 年）和近期（2015-19 年）的分布，以确定该地区分布的潜在变化，该地区正在经历快速变暖和伴随的海冰损失。在三种北极特有的鲸目动物中，白鲸（Delphinapterus leucas， 也称为白鲸）在整个研究过程中具有稳定的沿海分布，而独角鲸（Monodon monoceros）和弓头鲸（Balaena mysticetus ）) 仅在群岛北部观察到，但在最近一段时间内频率增加。白喙海豚（Lagenorhynchus albirostris）沿斯瓦尔巴群岛西部和南部的大陆架断裂带稳定分布。抹香鲸的观测在早期从 Bjørnøya 西部转移到近期集中在斯匹次卑尔根西部的 Prins Karls Forland 北端附近。四种夏季栖息须鲸——蓝鲸（Balaenoptera musculus）、长须鲸（Balaenoptera physalus）、座头鲸（Megaptera novaeangliae）和小须鲸（Balaenoptera acutorostrata ）)——它们的分布从早期的斯匹次卑尔根以西的大陆架断裂转移到近期的峡湾和沿海地区。这些变化与大西洋水流入斯匹次卑尔根西海岸和群岛北部峡湾的流入量增加相吻合。