Many scientists believe the current warming trend jeopardize the survival of the species known as Polar bears. The major danger posed by global warming is malnutrition or starvation due to the loss of habitat. Polar bears hunt seals from platforms of sea ice. Rising temperatures cause the sea ice to melt earlier in the year, forcing the bears to shore before they have built sufficient fat reserves to survive the period of scarce food in the late summer and early fall. The decline in sea-ice cover also forces bears to swim longer distances, which further drains their energy stores and occasionally leads to drowning. Thinner sea ice tends to warp more easily, which appears to make it more difficult for polar bears to access seals. Lack of nourishment leads to lower reproductive rates in adult females and lower survival rates in cubs and juvenile bears, in addition to poorer body condition in bears of all ages.
In addition to creating nutritional stress, a warming climate is expected to affect various other aspects of polar bear life: Changes in sea ice affect the ability of pregnant females to build appropriate maternity dens. As the distance increases between the pack ice and the coast, females must swim longer distances to reach favored areas which they prefer to den on land. Thawing of permafrost would affect the bears that traditionally den underground and warm winters could result in den roofs collapsing. Disease-causing bacteria and parasites would thrive in a warmer climate.
If we continue to do nothing to help change global warming Polar bears as well as many other species of animals will become extinct. We all can do our part in even a small way to help save the Polar bears. The effects of Global warming are extensive and irreversible. The sooner we make a change the more animals we can save.
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Are the only things being affected by global warming animals? I don't really know how this is effects societies? I don't mean to sound ignorant or anything, I just honestly don't know. Could it possibly flood over into areas like North America and Russia? Is there a time line that is expected for the extinction of polar bears? And what can we do about it?
ReplyDeletePolar bear fossils have been dated to over one hundred thousand years, which means that polar bears have already survived temperature change. Researchers say earlier melting of sea ice may also explain why in recent years there has been an increase in human interactions with polar bears in communities along the western coast of Hudson Bay.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I loved to learn about polar bears. They were so cool. They were like the normal bears I read about in the childhood story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Can you imagine that one day when I am reading that story to my children, that they will not get see what a polar bear looks like at a zoo. What are we doing to this planet? I mean think about it? I read somewhere that there is no other disease that is more harmful on this planet then the human existence. Pretty harsh, right? We’ll these creatures aren’t killing themselves off. Animals are going extinct due to us directly killing them, or us having indirectly killing them, and close to nothing is being done about it. Fish have disappeared from toxic riverbeds. All the toxic junk we use goes down one drain or another and where do you think that ends up. Polar bears are so hungry that they are attempting to do the unthinkable and try to attack walruses, which is a deadly feat. That’s like a hyena getting so crazed with its hunger that it would try to attack a lion. We are messing up the animals heads and their habitats.
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad, I love polar bears! Global warming is really a cause for concern, this is why we all need to use less energy, and try to drive less, if possible. The earth is getting too hott. What can we do to help these polar bears? I have seen commercials on this subject, and they want you to donate money, but what can a broke college student do to help these beautiful animals? If we don't help, they may become extinct.
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