Biodiversity

Global Warming Threatens Polar Bears Survival

Background: Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are the world’s largest bears. They live in the Arctic Circle and spend most of their time on the frozen sea. They mostly eat seals and use the ice to stand on while hunting. Polar bears are closely related to the brown bear but a few adaptations have occurred to help the polar bears survive for example they have adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet.

The Issue: Global Warming is melting the frozen sea which the polar bears need to survive. Before 2004 researchers from the U.S. Minerals Management Services said that they typically saw a lone polar bear swimming far from the comforts of the ice every two years. But in September 2004, the ice caps had retreated 160 miles north of the northern coast of Alaska, the researchers then counted 10 polar bears swimming far off shore. Polar bears do have the ability to swim long distances but have mostly evolved to only swimming between the ices many scientists have said. Oil and Gas developments have also disrupted the area. Oil spills hurt the sea animals and the oil can cause Hypothermia. The oil and gas developments also cause disruptions in the animal’s behavior like a female abandoning her cubs or leaving the nest early.

Likely Consequences: 1. There will be abundance of seals since there is no animal to hunt them in the Arctic Circle. 2. The native Arctic people would not have any raw material since they kill polar bears for skin and meat. 3. Arctic Foxes mainly eat on the remains left behind by the polar bear after a seal kill since the bears only the skin and fat so the foxes eat the meat.

The Solution: 1. Reuse Reduce Recycle! This will help bring the carbon dioxide levels down. 2. Sign the Save A Polar Bear petition to help President Obama see the problem of global warming on polar bears. 3. Since oil and gas developments have disrupted the area the oil and gas companies should try to make their plants more eco-friendly and if they have a oil spill they should have immediate clean up to try to save as many animals as possible. They should also try to locate their machines away from the animal’s habitat. 4. Awareness from the government to help people realize the issues! 5. More donation groups to help the world go more eco-friendly!

The Economy: 1. Many jobs will be created by the oil and gas companies trying to make their companies more eco friendly. 2. The government will need more people to spread the awareness! 3. Many jobs will be created to try to make eco-friendly cars, houses, etc. 4. Jobs can be created by tourists going to see the polar bears in a non-intrusive way!

Sources: http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB113452435089621905-vnekw47PQGtDyf3iv5XEN71_o5I_20061214.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-12-27-polar-bears_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35233-2004Nov8.html

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB113452435089621905-vnekw47PQGtDyf3iv5XEN71_o5I_20061214.html

http://www.savethepolarbear.org/