Local　adaptation　has　been　increasingly　involved　in　the　designation　of　species　conservation　strategies　to　response　to　climate　change.　Marine　mammals,　as　apex　predators,　are　climatechange　sensitive,　and　their　spatial　distribution　and　conservation　requirements　are　critically　significant　for　designing　protection　strategies.　In　this　study,　we　focused　on　an　ice-breeding　marine　mammal,　the　spotted　seal　(Phoca　largha),　which　exhibits　distinct　morphological　and　genetic　variations　across　its　range.　Our　objectives　were　to　quantify　the　ecological　niches　of　three　spotted　seal　populations,　construct　the　species-level　model　and　population-level　models　that　represent　different　regions　in　the　Bering　population　(BDPS),　Okhotsk　population　(ODPS)　and　southern　population　(SDPS),　and　conduct　a　conservation　gap　analysis.　Our　findings　unequivocally　demonstrated　a　clear　niche　divergence　among　the　three　populations.　We　predicted　habitat　contraction　for　the　BDPS　and　ODPS　driven　by　climate　change;　in　particular,　the　spotted　seals　inhabiting　Liaodong　Bay　may　face　breeding　habitat　loss.　However,　most　spotted　seal　habitats　are　not　represented　in　existing　marine　protected　areas.　Drawing　upon　these　outcomes,　we　propose　appropriate　conservation　policies　to　effectively　protect　the　habitat　of　the　different　geographical　populations　of　spotted　seals.　Our　research　addresses　the　importance　of　incorporating　local　adaptation　into　species　distribution　modeling　to　inform　conservation　and　management　strategies.　©　2023　by　the　authors.