Polar Bears: Observation Of Floating Ice Cover

"Polar Bears, Ringed Seals, and the Complex Consequences of Climate Change" is an article written by Mary Bates who earned her PhD studying Bat echolocation. She works for an American Association for the Advancement of Science. In this article Mary talks about how Climate change is impacting different species at different rates. Here, she focuses on sea-ice dependent animals such as Polar Bears and Ringed Seals at Arctic. She explains on how these animals are dependent upon the sea-ice for living. The Arctic is warming at a rate three times greater than the global average, and that the sea ice coverage is declining rapidly. She also talks about Hamilton's study on sea-ice dependent animals. Before the melting of sea ice the Polar bears used

Polar bears are one of the countless species who are endangered. They were one of the first animals affected by global warming and their population is heavily decreasing. Around 1980, the Arctic was as large as 8 million square kilometres. In 2011, studies show that the Arctic has reduced its size to 4.5 million square kilometers. In the future, will there be anything such as the Arctic? Scientist predict by 2040, only a fringe of ice will remain in Northeast Canada and Northern Greenland. This is known as the Last Ice Area. This matter is mostly taking part in Canada, since; Canada holds more than half the world’s polar bear population. Other affected countries include the U.S. (Alaska), Greenland,

With the ever rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, and constant warnings about global warming, it is no wonder that the animals inhabiting the artic regions around the world are now suffering a decline in their habitat as well as their livelihood. Such is the case with the Polar Bears who may soon be gone in a scant few years.

Canada is home to many species of rich heritage, cultural significance and meaning to the Canadian people. Of the many species, one holds a strong iconic significance that plays a vital role in the very ecosystem it resides in. The polar bear species are undoubtedly the apex predator of its food chain and a culturally significant species to the indigenous people. With both these traits, it makes the polar bear a true Canadian symbol which is further emphasized by its very place on the Canadian two-dollar coin to the strength and endurance represented by this majestic species. However, no matter how strong and enduring the polar bears are to the arctic, such resilience is not as effective against the harsh changes their environment has gone through.

A research scientist stands on a sheet of ice. He looks right, then left, more ice. Off in the distance are mountains of ice. There are open patches of water in the middle of this great land of ice reflecting the vibrant and glowing sun. Waiting with patience around one patch is a polar bear, white and skinny. Skinny, as the polar bear has not eaten in days. It stands watch with hopeful eyes that a big, juicy seal will pop its head out just enough to get a bite and haul the seal on shore to feed itself and the bear’s two cubs. This area is known as the arctic, and it is home to many animals, such as the polar bear, but they are in danger of losing their home due to the melting ice caps. At the beginning of the article “The geopolitics of Arctic melt”, Charles K. Ebinger, the director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at Brookings Institution, as well as Evie Zambetakis, a Senior Research Assistant at Brookings Institute in 2009, asserts their credence of how the thawing Arctic, due to Global warming, increased the interest of the area worldwide.

Scientists say that the melting of Arctic ice and ice caps are harmful to essential life of arctic animals like polar bears because they live on Arctic ice and ice caps (Rinkesh). Research has proven both of these theories wrong. The Arctic ice and ice caps have increased and are still increasing. Since 2012, the Arctic ice and ice caps have increased in volume by fifty percent (Foley). There are over twenty thousand polar bears in the world and over sixty percent of these polar bears live in Canada (Matishov). The population of polar bears is increasing and staying at a stable rate, depending on their location (Global Warming and Polar Bears). Since, both of these theories have been proven wrong, we do not believe that “global warming” is affecting the Arctic ice or Arctic

The truth is that polar bears are recorded as jeopardized and considered by numerous to be undermined. Explorers can keep away from the governmental issues of Alaska and see these superb animals on a Canadian polar bear visit before they vanish. (Gary 1993, p 117)

There are not many creatures in the world that have the ability to not only survive thirty-two degrees below zero temperatures, but live in this climate as well. Among penguins and seals, polar bears are apart of the group of creatures that live everyday life in these freezing conditions. However, polar bears were not always able to do this. According to the Public Broadcast Service (PBS) website, polar bears evolved from brown bears through microevolution. Microevolution, by definition, is “small-scale evolution that occurs from one generation to the next” (Larsen p. A15). Due to the discovery of fossils, it is believed that brown bears evolved into polar bears between 70,000 to 100,000 years ago. This evolution can be seen by the change of fur color from brown to white to blend in while hunting for food and by the growth of a thicker, warmer coat to protect against the cold temperatures (PBS). This all occurred because of an event called the “ice age”. However, in the year 2316, an event called “global warming” will cause a much different evolution. Global warming is a phrase used to describe the ongoing, subtle rise in temperature of the earth and it’s oceans. Because of the small efforts being made to slow down global warming, nearly all of the ice caps in the ocean will most likely be melted by the year 2316. With polar bears only being able to survive by living on polar

The polar bear lives up in the Arctic region where global warming and climate change are melting the ice caps that the bears thrive on. They use the ice as a platform from hunting and rest. The random pocket holes in the ice, where the seals pop up at, is where the polar bear catches its prey. With this reduction of ice, “the abundance of seals, and increases the amount of energy and time needed for hunting, leaving less energy for reproduction” (Endangered Species and Habitats).

Due to the effects of greenhouse gases, the sea ice that polar bears rely on for foraging and shelter is declining rapidly. Some populations of polar bears are forced to depend on their stored fat for energy during summer due to melting of the sea ice, which prevents them from hunting more efficiently. Being forced to rely on stored fat leads to a decline in energy intake, which leads to a decline in body mass. A decline in body mass correlates with slower reproductive rates and decreasing survival rates, which effects the growth and genetic diversity of the population. The increased amount of open water in between sea ice causes the polar bears to swim for greater lengths and therefore makes it more difficult for female polar bears to find proper dens for reproducing and protecting their offspring (Derocher and Stirling, 2012). The rate at which the sea ice declines is projected to accelerate over time (Derocher and Stirling, 2012), which means we will soon reach a year when severe malnutrition will lead to an irreversible decrease of polar bear populations (Aars et

The polar bears are dying rapidly, and if we don’t start thinking about the environment then they will blow out to extinction. Polar bears, known as the bears of antarctica, are magnificent animals. They are the top consumer for most prey. Without them, the secondary consumer would overpopulate and eventually lose control and take over.

The concerns about the ever rising sea levels, melting ice caps, and constant warnings about global warming making their way into everyday news and our lives, it is no surprise that bears inhabiting the arctic regions are now suffering as a result. The extent of the damage done to the Polar Bears may mean they'll soon be gone in a scant few years.

While observing literacy centers and guided reading, I noticed that students were the ones doing most of the taking. Most of the conversations were between peers, with a majority about the center activity they were working on. In the library center, there was only one students that finished her center work early enough to self-select a text to read. She read the book titled, Polar Bears Closeup. The briefly looked at the pictures on each page but never attempted to decode the text. In the guided reading center, the teacher selected a text called, Me, for students to read. To support the students while reading, Ms. J used magnetic letters to review letter sounds and support letter recognition. She also helped students stretch tricky words, having

Today, I watched the cape south polar bears on a live cam (explore.org) from the Manitoba Wapusk National Park. At the time, I was observing most of the polar bears were awake expect for one bear who was travelling around the park. As the bear travelled, it came upon another bear who appeared to be smaller than the bear that was traveling. As I kept on observing, it seemed like the two polar bears were parent and child because of the smaller bear copying the actions of the bear that was bigger. Also, as the big polar bear started to move around the park, the smaller polar bear would look back at the larger bear to see where it was going. For a long duration of the observation, the two polar bears sat together. At one point, the big bear looked

warming is causing the Arctic sea, the bears' habitat and hunting ground, to melt and decline.