How are Polar Bear

Affected By Global
Warming?

By Marina, Henry, Jasmin, And Nayeli

Basic facts
● Polar bears are marine mammals.
● Largest land carnivores in the world.
● Only found in the arctic.
● Spend most of their time ice hunting.
● Weight 900 to 1,600lbs
● Average lifespan in the wild:25 to 30 years
● Are dependent.
 Population of polar bears
● The population of polar bears are
hard to estimate because it has
been poorly studied.
● However, biologists are working with
the estimate of about 20-25,000 or
22-31,000 polar bears worldwide
● Polar bears have been decreasing
over the years because ice has
largely absent in some summers
since 2006.
What is Global warming?
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other pollutants
and greenhouse gases that are collected in the atmosphere. It
absorbs the sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off
the earth's surface.
Impacts on Society
● Climate change isn’t currently just a threat to polar bears or
the Arctic. It has a profound impact on people with effects
that will intensify unless we reduce greenhouse gas
emission.
● Climate change is affecting the people’s health, food
security, water supply, transportation, energy and others.
What do Polar Bears Eat?

Polar bears feed mainly on ringed and bearded seals.

Depending on their location, they also eat harp and hooded seals
and scavenge on carcasses of beluga whales, walruses, narwhals,
and bowhead whales. On occasion, polar bears kill beluga whales
and young walruses.
What is the adaption of a polar bear?
● Small ears - reduces heat losses
● Strong legs for swimming and running -
helps them catch their prey
● Thick layer of fat - insulation and a
store of energy
● Thick layer of white fur - insulation
against the cold, and for camouflage
Why don't polar bears hibernate?

Brown and black bears hibernate during winter to conserve

energy and stay warm. But the same isn’t true for polar
bears.Only pregnant polar bears den up for the the colder
months. With climate change it is more relevant to look more into
sorts of adaptations that exist in organisms that live in this high
latitude environment.
Where do polar bears migrate to?

Polar bears migrate north as rising temperatures hasten arctic

melt. New study of DNA suggests generations of bears are
'moving towards areas with more persistent year-round sea ice'.
They also migrate to Hudson Bay where sea ice is reforming
after months of summer melt.
How do Polar Bear communicate with each other?
● How polar bears communicate with each other is by sight,
touch, and smell
● The male polar bears initiates play fighting by approaching
another male with it’s head down and mouth closed. The
bears usually make contact by touching or mouthing each
other around the face and neck. Then they rear up on their
hind legs and try to push each other over with their
forepaws.
● The female polar bears can comfort, protect or punish her
cub by using her body, muscle, and paws.
How many polar bears die each year?
● Each year 500 to 600 polar
bears die
● They die because of the
pollution in the air, that causes
the ice to melt
● Studies have shown that polar
bears need ice to survive
because that is how they were
bread
In conclusion...
Polar bears are very unique mammals that many people have
researched about and have found many interesting facts
about.Polar bears are the most researched and talked about.
Now that global warming is happening,it's harder for polar bears
to live in peace and hunt for their food.