Polar Bear - Westover, Connor

Polar Bears and the Arctic Problem

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Ecology:

At 10 feet tall and weighing up to 2,000 pounds the polar bear clocks in as the largest land carnivore. Equipped with jagged teeth and large forward canines they are a capable yet majestic creature. In the Arctic, polar bears are on top of the food chain and they play an important role in their ecosystem feeding on a variety of different animals from seals to the occasional walrus. Polar bears feed mainly off of the fat of ringed seals, they are big hungry creatures but are known to leave a large amount of the carcass behind, leaving room for other animals to flourish. This food cycle is what allows the Arctic ecosystem to continue running in a healthy and well-functioning manner. If Polar Bears were removed from this cycle… the effects could be devastating to the entire local ecosystem.

Description:

Polar bears are most commonly known for their fur, it is typically white or light yellow and consists of hairs of different lengths. Polar bears are assumed to have this fur to blend in and to keep them warm, because it is thicker than other bears fur.. Polar bears also have a thick layer of blubber under their fur (see picture right) that gives them warmth and buoyancy in water, their skin is also black underneath all the fur,, also helping retain heat (Endangered Polar Bear). Polar bears also have enormous feet that act as paddles in the water when they are swimming and serve as snowshoes when they are traveling far distances across the ice and snow. Polar bears are considered to be marine mammals, therefore they are extremely strong swimmers. People have reported seeing polar bears in open Arctic waters 200 miles from land (Defenders of Wildlife). These long journeys are part of Polar Bears lives, but with declining sea ice, it may not be possible anymore…

Geography:

The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group estimates there to be approximately 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide. Polar bears range over 5 Arctic nations which are divided up into 19 subpopulations. Right is a map showing where all the subpopulations of polar bears occur. Some of these subpopulations occur in the Seasonal Ice Ecoregion, which means that their region melts in the summer, forcing the polar bears in that area to stay on shore until the sea ice is formed again. Polar bears depend on sea ice in order to hunt and eat arctic seals, seek mates and raise their cubs, to make denning areas, and also to travel long distances. Below is a map describing these Season Ecoregions.

Listing Date and Type:

-The polar bear was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act on May 15, 2008 (6).

This listing was based off of the decline of sea ice in the Arctic. This loss of habitat is continuing to threaten the existence of polar bears and it is unlikely that polar bears will be recovered. Therefore, polar bears are at risk of becoming endangered in the near future (Marine Mammals Management).

Causes of listing:

First and foremost, arctic warming is what is causing the Polar Bears the biggest problems. Science shows that the melting of the sea ice is increasing rapidly, being the main habitat for polar bears, this is a massive amount of habitat destruction. Arctic Warming is just another effect of global warming, this isn’t the only thing affecting Polar Bears. Human caused removals, disease/parasites, oil spills, and gas development are also leading contributing factors for why polar bears were evaluated in the 2008 listing as a threatened species (11).

Recovery Plan:

The Seven most important factors (Described on Page 40 of Recovery Plan) that could help to lead the Polar Bears off of their Endangered Species Listing are as Follows:

1. Limit global atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases to levels appropriate for supporting polar bear recovery and conservation, primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
1. This is essential, not only to polar bears but the earth itself. Stop Global Warming.
2. Support international conservation efforts through the Range States relationships
1. The Arctic Nations (Range States) most closely associated with Polar Bears, should be backed internationally to be the leaders in conservation efforts.
3. Manage human-bear conflicts
1. Decreased Ice may push polar bears inward towards human developments, it is key to have an understanding relationship with these people and the bears.
4. Collaboratively manage subsistence harvest
1. Recognizing and limiting Human caused removals of polar bears and polar bear subsistence’s.
5. Protect denning habitat
1. Identifying and protecting past dens, current dens and possible future dens of Polar Bears.
6. Minimize risks of contamination from spills
1. Essential to all wild life, increase in Oil and other substance shipping possess a threat to ocean related wildlife, such as polar bears. Controlling these spills would lead to a healthier polar bear population.
7. . Conduct strategic monitoring and research
1. Evaluated and updated the effectiveness of these objectives and the plan itself through several avenues including the monitoring of Polar Bears themselves.

For More Information and the entire recovery plan please select below:

Recovery Plan

To immediately learn more about polar bears and the threats they are facing as a threatened species, watch this documentary, “Ice Bear” on YouTube. (picture linked)

For other involvement in the Polar Bear effort please visit polarbearsinternational.org

• This site lets you go as far as adopting your own polar bear, meaning they pick a polar bear in the arctic that your donations directly effect

References:

https://www.fws.gov/alaska/PDFs/PBRT%20Recovery%20Plan%20Book.pdf

http://www.defenders.org/polar-bear/basic-facts

http://www.endangeredpolarbear.com/description.html

http://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/esa.htm