Daniel Bain
Goals Present background
information about the Polar Bear’s life history and ecology
Discuss threats to the Polar Bear population
Examine past and current conservation efforts
Evaluate the future of Polar Bear conservation
Habitat Live exclusively in ice
covered waters of Arctic
19 populations worldwide, with a total of 20,000-25,000 bears
Range covers Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States
Life History Lifespan: 15-18 years in the
wild, into mid-30s in captivity
Age of reproduction: 5-6 years
Gestation period: 8 months Litter size: 1-2 cubs Short lifespan, late
reproduction and small litter size leads to one of the lowest reproduction rates among mammals
Females only produce ~5 litters in their lifetime
Why is Conservation Important? Listed as
Vulnerable by IUCN
Population predicted to decrease by 30% in the next ~50 years(Aars,2005)
Possibly extinct by 2100
Acts as indicator species for overall Arctic health, and climate change
Threats
Climate Change
Hunting
Oil Development and Pollution
Climate Change Most severe threat Melting ice cap leads
to smaller and fragmented habitat
Some predict ice cap will disappear entirely during summers by 2100
Due to low reproduction rates, long generation span, and low genetic diversity, the polar bear does not adapt well to drastic changes in habitat
Climate Change
Increased fragmentation causes bears to swim longer distances
Polar bears are capable swimmers, but increased swimming is energetically taxing, and can be life threatening
Increased swimming distances also leads to higher incidences of drowning (Pagano et al, 2012)
Climate Change As ice melts and habitat shrinks, bears are forced onto
dry land for extended periods of time
Energetically taxing; rely on stored fats for survival
Being on dry land makes polar bears more susceptible to hunting
Hunting Polar bears have been
hunted for food, hides, and other handiworks
Drastic decline in populations before regulations were made
Over-harvesting still exists as result of poor inventory in some areas
Arctic Oil Development Oil spills and increased
human interactions
Oil exposure contaminates food and diminishes insulating properties of polar bear fur
Human disturbances at or near maternity den sites can cause mothers to abandon the den and their cubs(Aars,2005)
Pollution Many pollutants are
lipophillic(fat-loving) Polar bears have fat rich
diet, eating mainly seals Cubs are exposed to
pollutants as well from their mothers’ milk, which is also high in fat
Pollutants can affect immune system, growth, hormone regulation, and decreases reproduction rates(Knot et al, 2012)
Conservation Efforts 1965-All 5 countries meet in International Scientific
Meeting on the Polar Bear.
1973-sign International Polar Bear Agreement
Most important influence on management and research, but not enforceable by law
Hunting of polar bears completely banned in Russia in 1956; in Norway in 1973
United States, Canada and Greenland have hunting regulations
All populations witnessed some re-growth initially
Future Considerations Better inventory needed. Despite regulations, some areas
have poor inventory, making hunting difficult to manage
Still, climate change is the main threat. Rapidly shrinking/fragmenting habitat biggest issues
Direct threats(harvesting) have been controlled.
Indirect threats (Pollution, oil development, climate change) need to adressed.
More research into climate change needed
Shows importance of need for awareness of pollution and climate change and its effects
Summary The polar bear has a very low
reproduction rate, making it difficult for it to adapt to changes in its habitat
Classified as Vulnerable Climate change, and to a lesser
extent pollution, Arctic oil development and hunting, are the main threats to its conservation
Many steps have been taken to conserve the polar bear
In the end, the polar bear’s conservation shows the importance of monitoring our own actions and their consequences
References Knot, KK, D. Boyd, GM Ylitalo, and TM O'Hara. "Lactational Transfer of Mercury and
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Polar Bears." Chemosphere 88.4 (2012): 395-402. Print. Stirling, Ian, and Andrew E. Derocher. "Effects of Climate Warming on Polar Bears: A
Review of the Evidence." Global Change Biology 18 (2012): 2694-706. Print. Pagano, AM, GM Durner, SC Amstrup, KS Simac, and GS York. "Long-distance
Swimming by Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) of the Southern Beaufort Sea during Years of Extensive Open Water." Canadian Journal of Zoology 90.5 (2012): 663-76. Print.
Sahanatien, V., and AE Derocher. "Monitoring Sea Ice Habitat Fragmentation for Polar Bear Conservation." Animal Conservation 15.4 (2012): 397-406. Print.
Ferguson, SH, D. Berteaux, AJ Gaston, JW Hidgon, N. Lecomte, N. Lunn, ML Mallory, J. Reist, D. Russell, NG Yoccoz, and X. Zhu. "Time Series Data for Canadian Arctic Vertebrates: IPY Contributions to Science, Management, and Policy." Climate Change 115.1 (2012): 235-58. Print.
"Polar Bear Status & Population." Polar Bears International. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears/essentials/current-status>.
Aars, Jon, ed. (June 2005) (PDF). Polar Bears. 32. 14th Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, Nicholas J. Lunn and Andrew E. Derocher. Seattle, Washington, United States: IUCN. ISBN 2-8317-0959-8. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.(29):33-55.
"Ursus Maritimus." (Polar Bear). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22823/0>.