Final answer:
The melting ice caps due to global warming are impacting Arctic wildlife by reducing habitats for polar bears and other species, leading to unexpected inter-species contacts, and altering migration patterns. Rising sea levels and changing freshwater availability are additional concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global warming is having a profound effect on the Arctic wildlife. As the ice caps melt, animals like polar bears are finding it increasingly difficult to hunt their primary prey, seals, due to the declining sea ice coverage. This loss of habitat is not just a problem for polar bears; it also affects other species that are adapted to high elevations and might experience crowding and habitat loss as climate gradients push them upwards.
The phenomenon of polar bears and grizzly bears interbreeding as their habitats overlap is one example of how species are coming into contact in new ways. Additionally, birds and other species changing their migration patterns may not be able to adapt quickly enough to the increasing average temperatures. The melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, altering shorelines and freshwater resources, which could create an imbalance in salt and fresh water availability.