What a Changing Arctic Means for Polar Bears

www.telegraph.co.uk

Polar bears seem to be the poster child for climate change. Likely because they are so lovable and iconic of the Arctic. But what exactly will happen to polar bears if the Arctic continues to change so drastically?

First of all, the Arctic is warming at 2X the rate of the rest of the planet. This will only accelerate the melting of summer sea ice, which is seeing the lowest amounts of ice ever recorded. Polar bears rely on sea ice in order to capture their prey, which is mainly ringed seals. They use the ice to hunt their prey, while the seals haul out on the ice.

This changing environment will cause polar bears to rely on land much more heavily, which will significantly alter their prey. An article I read claims polar bears were recently seen eating dolphins for the first time (http://www.livescience.com/51195-polar-bears-eat-dolphins.html). What is surprising is not the fact that a polar bear can take down a dolphin. Polar bears are opportunistic predators and have been known to prey on many organisms, including belugas, narwhals, and even their own cubs if food is scarce enough. What is most surprising is that dolphins were that far in the Arctic during this time of year. The white beaked dolphin spotted being devoured by the polar bear generally only ventures into the Arctic during the end of summer when sea ice is at its minimum, and they generally stay in sub-arctic waters where the water is warmer and free of ice.

nsidc.org

Sea ice is on a steady decline. While there is less sea ice in the winter months as well, what is most troubling is the amount of summer sea ice. An ice free summer in the Arctic is likely to be seen by the year 2040. This opens up opportunities for drilling oil, which the consumption of will not only accelerate climate change, but the chance of oil spills in the Arctic will increase, their effects, devastating the ecosystem. This is a problem that has to be taken seriously, we don't have much time to act. 

I didn't mean for this to be such a depressing post! But I do want to raise awareness to what the Arctic will be facing in the next couple of decades. The problem will not simply go away. Not only polar bears, but the whole Arctic ecosystem will be effected by a changing Arctic.