Question

Name:

Date:
Scenario
One of the fiercest predators on Earth's surface is the polar bear. This large carnivore lives on the
sea ice in the arctic circle. Marine mammals such as the ringed and bearded seals make up their
diet. Polar bears can swim great distances to find their food. Only during mating season will they
seek out other polar bears.
Polar Bear Population (Data Reported in Thousands)
2008
14
15
15.2
14.5
13.2
11.4
Month
2004 2005 2006 2007
January
14
13.7
13.6
13.8
February 14.9
14.4
14.4
14.5
March
15.1 14.8
14.4
14.7
April
14.1
14.1
14
13.9
May
12.6
13
12.6
13
June
11.5
11.4
11.1
11.5
2009
14.1
14.8
15.2
14.6
13.4
11.5
2010
13.8
14.6
15.1
14.7
13.1
10.9

Answer 1

Polar bears are the most affected by the melting of Arctic sea ice, as it is their hunting ground for seals. The reduction of sea ice due to climate change threatens their survival and food supply. Habitat overlap with grizzly bears has also been observed, creating hybrid species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The polar bear, a top predator in the Arctic, is profoundly affected by the melting of sea ice. Among the animals listed (grizzly bears, koalas, black bears), the polar bear would be the most impacted by this environmental change. This species relies on the sea ice as its primary hunting ground to feed on seals, which are their main source of food.

The decline in sea ice due to global warming forces polar bears to travel longer distances, increasing the hazards they face and impacting their ability to find food. As a result, the polar bear's survival is heavily threatened by the effects of climate change.

Another consequence of the changing climate is the overlapping habitats of grizzly bears and polar bears, leading to hybrid species known as grolar bears. This indicates that the traditional ecological partitions between these two species are blurring, which could lead to further complications for their survival and conservation.