They are mainly found in or around ice-covered areas. Sea ice is important to ringed seals, as it provides protection from some of its predators. ... During their spring molt, ringed seals reduce their food intake. Most ringed seals give birth in lairs on ice floes.

What do ringed seals do for the environment?

HABITAT: Ringed seals depend on sea ice to give birth, nurse pups, and haul out to complete the annual molt of their fur. Sea ice and snow also afford protection from polar bear and Arctic fox predators and provide insulation and shelter from extreme Arctic temperatures.

Why are ringed seals a keystone species?

Their circumpolar distribution and high abundance, along with their vital roles both as a high-trophic predator and as prey in this relatively species-poor system, makes them a key link in the arctic food web.