The Effects of Climate Change on Polar Bears

BY: Elizabeth Kelchner, Katelin Hancock, and Lara Rizzuti

The Polar Bear’s History Experts believe that the polar bear developed up to

two-hundred thousand years ago through convergent evolution.

Recently discovered fossils reveal evidence of a change in the molar teeth between the brown and

polar bear species.

Since the Pleistocene period, polar bears have adapted to fit a very particular niche of our

environment.

Their anatomical structure, hunting habits, and nutritional needs have evolved specifically to accompany the arctic climate and ecosystem.

Semi-Transparent Fur

Heightened Sense of Smell

Furred and Wide Paws

42 Teeth

“Running Across Ice…and Time”

Large sheets of sea ice are crucial to their hunting and migratory patterns.

The arctic environment serves as both a home and protection to the bears.

Declining Stable Increasing Data deficientBaffin Bay N. Beaufort

SeaM’Clintock Channel

Arctic Basin

S. Beaufort Sea Gulf of Boothia   Barents Sea

Chukchi Sea S. Hudson Bay   East Greenland

Davis Strait     Foxe Basin

W. Hudson Bay     Laptev Sea

Lancaster Sound

    Kara Sea

Kane Basin     Viscount Melville

Norwegian Bay      

What’s the big deal???

Changes of the Subpopulations of Polar Bears

Fossil fuel, agriculture, and human activity has increased greenhouse gases

Build up of carbon dioxide from carbon emissions

For the next two decades, a warming of about 0.2°C per decade is predicted for a range of emission scenarios

How is the climate changing?

• Increasing species extinctions• Reduction of coral reefs, mangrove forests, and tropical rainforests• Threats to small island states in the Pacific as sea levels rise• Increasing drought threats in Africa• More severe flooding in densely populated river deltas in Asia• More severe weather in hurricane prone zones

Consequences

How is the climate change affecting polar bears?

Since the bears are unable to store enough

fat, the newborn cubs are

weighing less and are less

likely to survive than the cubs

with appropriate nutrients.

How is the climate change affecting polar bears?

When the ice melts, polar bears swim to find new ice sheets,

since the ice is becoming rare, the polar bears drown before they ever

reach the ice.

How is the climate change affecting polar bears?

How is the climate change affecting polar bears?

Polar bears rarely suffer from disease and infections, but warmer climates provide disease

causing bacteria and parasites to flourish

more readily.The amount of polar bear and human interaction

has increased. Polar bears have less room to roam and hungry bears are searching for food on land.

Polar bears are losing their natural prey due to global warming

Not very good at catching land animals such as caribou and land animals have low fat content

Some bears have resorted to cannibalism

Food sources

Polar bear domicile

Polar bear dens on the packed ice declined from 62% between 1985 and 1994 to 37% between 1998 and 2004

Availability and quality of ice dens for polar bears are on the decline

Polar bears have been wandering into human establishments looking for food and shelter

As the ice continues to melt, more and more unwanted polar bear interactions are happening

Human interactions

Why should we care about the polar bear?

Besides being cute and cuddly, they play an important part in the food chain

Biodiversity is important in an environment

They serve as a good way to observe the effects of climate change

Changes alter the period of ice coverage

･ Bears may spend greater amounts of time on land.

･ Extended use of terrestrial areas would ultimately effect physical condition of bears when forced to rely on fat stores.

･ Decreased physical condition could effect production and survival.

Climate changes on prey species will have a negative effect on

polar bears:

･ Increased snow can result in reduced success in successfully entering seal birth lairs.

･ Decreased snow or increased seasonal rain patterns could effect seals by not providing adequate snow for construction of birth habitats or if rain fall by collapsing birth habitats thus reducing seal productivity.

･ Prey reductions could effect polar bear condition and ultimately cub production and survival.

Denning could be impacted by unusual warm spells:

･ Access to high quality denning areas may be limited or restricted

･ Rain or warming could directly cause snow dens to collapse or be opened to ambient conditions

･ Loss of thermal insulate properties in opened dens could affect litter survival

Ways to Help Polar Bears

1) Plant a Tree: Planting a tree is one of the easiest and earth-friendly

projects you can partake in to fight excessive carbon dioxide.

2) Adopt a Polar Bear: Each Adoption of a Polar Bear supports a Polar Bear in the

wild. You can choose from a $200, $100, $50, or a $25 Adoption.

3)Join or donate to Polar Bear S.O.S. Campaign

4) Send a letter to Congress!

Sources:

ActionBioScience.Org- www.actionbioscience.org/environment/derocher.htmlPolar Bears International- www.polarbearsinternational.org/polarbears/climatechangeThe Daily Galaxy photo- www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/05/is-the-polar-be.html Wilderness Wonders photo- http://www.tonynewlin.com/Polar_Promise.htmlWikipedia photo- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bearGuardian.co.uk- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/08/polar-bearsCanada Outdoor World http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/08/polar-bearswiseGEEK - http://www.wisegeek.com/are-polar-bears-in-danger-from-global-warming.htmhttp://polarbearsinternational.org/shop/adopt-a-polar-bear･http://polarbearsinternational.org/programs/planting-trees-polar-bears･http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/essay_schliebe.html