Final answer:
Polar bears will be the most impacted by the melting of sea ice in Alaska due to their reliance on it for hunting seals, which are their primary food source.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact of Melting Sea Ice on Bears
According to Dambach (1950), most fur-bearers harvested during the 1940s were taken from traps. Now addressing the student's questions, for the query on which animals would be most affected by the melting of sea ice in Alaska, the answer is polar bears. Polar bears are highly specialized for life on the Arctic sea ice and rely on it for hunting seals, which are their primary food source. If the sea ice continues to melt due to climate change, polar bears will struggle to find food and may face significant population declines.
In contrast, grizzly bears and black bears have a more varied diet and habitat range that includes forests and mountains, making them less directly affected by changes in sea ice. Koalas are not native to Alaska and are therefore not affected by sea ice conditions.
It's important to note that while polar bears will be the most affected, changes in sea ice can have broader ecosystem implications, affecting other wildlife and indigenous communities that depend on these environments.