Global Management
As polar bears inhabit the Arctic regions of five separate nations, it is important to examine the different nation specific management plans in place for conservation of the species. By examining the various management plans in place, a comprehensive look into polar bear management of the species on a global level may be achieved. Of the five nations with polar bear populations, the three largest have some form of a national management plan in place. However, in all five nations, all have specific polar bear hunting regulations and restrictions that also assist in polar bear preservation.
Of the global agreements and conventions relating to global polar bear conservation, there are four to mention. One is an international
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The United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2008 and polar bears are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 (USDOS, 2015). Normally, listing species is dependent on population levels of a species inhabiting areas within the United States. Instead, the listing was based on scientific evidence presenting a loss of sea ice that is threatening to polar bear habitat. Much debate is ongoing for efforts to list polar bears as an endangered species to increase protections. However, doing so may prove difficult under the legislation of the ESA due to lack of accurate population counts of polar bears in the United States. The United States is also involved in several international agreements regarding polar bear conservation …show more content…
The new agencies have developed a new goal and strategy to define polar bear conservation in Russia. The strategy was approved by the Natural Resource Ministry in 2010 to institute methods of polar bear preservation in the Russian Arctic under the conditions of human impact on the ecosystems and climate changes (Nikolaevich, 2014). It is yet to be seen how effective the new strategies will be, however this is a good start from not having a national polar bear plan at
There are about 100 different species of animals there, all of which are affected by climate change, but polar bears the worst. Polar bears are the most sensitive to the rapid change in climate because most of their life is spent on sea ice. With the temperatures rising in the Beringia Upland Tundra, the sea ice they thrive on is melting at a very high rate (Powell). Without this ice, the polar bears will not be able to easily move around to mate with other polar bears. They will also not be able to successful hunts on seals because the seals will see them swimming and swim away before anything bad can happen to them. If there was not a shortage of ice, the seals would not see the polar bears on the ice and they would swim closer to the surface. Another challenge the polar bears will face is that they will be eventually forced to go on to the seashore. This would be catastrophic because there would be and increase of competition for food. This could start massive stampedes that could kill polar bear cubs due to adult polar bears trampling them. As of now, there are only 26,000 wild polar bears alive. By 2050, it is predicted that two thirds of all wild polar bears will be gone. By 2100, it is predicted that polar bears will become extinct if nothing is done about global warming and climate change (Kliskey). Another animal in the Beringia Upland Tundra that is affected by climate change in
Glacier retreat will greatly affect polar and aquatic ecosystems and animals. Most arctic life revolves around the sea and presence of sea ice. Without the presence of ice, most ecosystems will be recreated. Polar bears are one species in great danger. Polar bears use sea ice as a birthing and hunting ground, and also use it to travel from one place to another. As glaciers start to disappear, the mother polar bear has less access to food; therefore, the chance of survival for her and her young is very slim. The polar bears chance of reproduction becomes less as the glaciers retreat. As the top of the food chain, their decline will cause negative effects for each level below them (Review Diagram G). The only way for polar bears to survive, is by
The polar bear, the largest land carnivore in North America, one of the largest animals in the world and a favorite at zoos worldwide, has, over the years, adapted to its harsh Arctic environment. The appropriately named ‘ursus maritimum’ or sea bear usually lives between 15 and 18 years in the wild and spends most of its life on ice. It is the most recent of the eight bear species. The first polar bear was a brown bear subspecies, with brown bear dimensions and brown bear teeth. The polar bear evolution was rapid due to the small population and extreme pressure to survive. Even today, the polar bear continues to evolve to better adapt to the harsh realities of Arctic life.
For the past few weeks, we have been reading the informational text, Where Do Polar Bears Live? Today, you are going to take an assessment where you will have the opportunity to show what you have learned. There are two parts to the assessment. The first part is a 1 short response question, and the second part is 5 multiple choice questions.
As a result, humans are slowly destroying the bear's ability to reproduce, and function in a normal way. By removing chemicals such as mercury, DDT, PCBs and lindane to name a few from our waste it is possible that the world may be able to retain our population of arctic polar bears, and preserve the beautiful creature for generations to come. Alternatively, people should use this as a warning of things to come if they continue to be so irresponsible about their waste. The implications to other ecosystems could be sufficiently more devastating than what is being witnessed in the arctic, and it is humanity's responsibility to take action now before it is too
Many people may not know that Canada is home to one of the largest subspecies of polar bears called Ursus maritimus. These polar bears are notorious for being a nuisance for the people of Churchill, Man. Every year, hundreds of polar bears gather on the western shore of Hudson Bay to hunt for seals once the ice freezes. There is one very large issue about this; the polar bears have not eaten in months due to hibernation. This makes the polar bears very desperate for food. The polar bears often invade towns and become aggressive to the townspeople. An important question arises: what is the government doing about it?
The polar bears are losing sea ice for their habitation. Polar bears live in countries around the Arctic Circle, these areas included Canada, Alaska, Greenway, and Norway. There are 19 identified populations of polar bears living in four different sea ice regions across the Arctic. The Artic surrounds the North Pole however, the ice is melting and darkening of the artic. There is supporting evidence about air pollutions and how the greenhouse effect is affecting the polar bears environment. Polar bears will eventually only have one last stronghold left for them and even then, researchers do not know how long that one will even last. The last stronghold for them are small islands in the middle of Canada called the Artic Archipelago. This is
Between the years of 1800 and 1975 bears population decreased from 100,00 to 1,000. Since bears started to become endangered, they became protected by what is called Endangered Species Act in 1975. Now bears can’t be hunted. Even though they are protected, some bears like pandas and polar bears, are going endangered just because of their habitats.
Summary Polar bears are an important arctic species that are in danger of extinction because of climate change. Polar bears are known as a keystone species, meaning they have significant effect on the environment in which they live. As such, keeping polar bears alive is essential for a balanced ecosystem in the Arctic Circle. One of the major threats to polar bears is melting sea ice. As the overall temperature of the earth increases due to global warming and the greenhouse effect, the sea ice that polar bears live on for most of their lives is melting.
As reported in KRQE, http://krqe.com/2015/07/05/study-polar-bears-could-feel-global-warmings-sting-by-2025/ despite being the first species to be listed under threat under the Endangered Species Act for global warming, the plight of the Arctic polar bears is ongoing. Researchers fear that we'll see how bad we've hurt the Arctic polar bear as early as a decade, or 2025.
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).
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,
No one wants to see our white furry friends go. That's why the USFWS has responded to the declining population of the polar bears by drafting up a conservation plan to save them, or at least minimize their losses. The draft of the conservation effort can be found here on which it lists that number
The U.S Fish Wildlife Service says that Polar Bears are declining, and are becoming endangered. 22,000 to 31,000 Polar Bears are now roming the world. Studies have shown that these bears are going to be extinct because of the ice that are melting. The Atlantic bear usually make their dens in the ice and snow. However, because of Global Warming the icebergs are melting, causing the dens harder to live in for the bears. I believe we should do more to help these bears from becoming extinct by stopping Global Warming, and clean the environment, and starting a club.
For a species to qualify to be listed under CITES Appendix I they must exhibit a decline in population size due to a decrease in habitat area or quality, and they must be affected by trade (Parsons and Cornick, 2011). Polar bears (Ursinus maritimus) have experienced both a decrease in habitat, as a result of climate change, and are internationally traded for commercial and non-commercial purposes (Parsons and Cornick, 2011). Exports in polar bear products have been increasing since the 1990’s (Parsons and Cornick, 2011). Between 1992 and 2006, 31,294 polar bear products were exported or re-exported (Parsons and Cornick, 2011). Additionally, the population trends for many polar bear populations are in decline (Parsons and Cornick, 2011). However, the polar bear is still only listed under CITES Appendix II, and therefore polar bear specimens and products can continue to be traded internationally (Parsons and Cornick,