Alaska and the Polar Bear Crisis

by Juan Roman-Reyes

Alaska and the Polar Bear Crisis

How has climate change impacted this area? (think about the impact it has on the environment, animals, humans, etc.?)

1. Climate change has impacted the climate of Alaska as it has been impacted drastically by the melting of the glaciers. One of the most prominent species to be impacted by the melting of the glacial ice caps is the polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Polar bears need sea ice to catch their prey and with these breaking apart and melting, the young cubs are growing to be less fit and having to squander for themselves.

Studies were led to be shown that The distribution of bears on shore was most strongly influenced by the presence of whale carcasses and to a lesser extent sea ice and onshore habitat conditions.

2. What is currently being done to help combat or remedy the situation?

Some things that can be done to save the habitats of the Polar Bears on the Alaskan front are limiting your carbon emission fuels by being on the lookout for more renewable sources of energy and shopping more environmentally friendly

3. Where else in the world is experiencing a similar form of climate change? How does this affect the region around it? What effects does it have globally?

This issue is very similar to the event we had learned about with the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica we had previously learned about where the native habitat of the polar bear lies. A similar impact is occurring with the Thwaites Glacier as with the general glaciers of Alaska as they are both melting and causing global temperatures and sea levels to rise.

4. Must include 2 scholarly references

4. Stirling, Ian, and Andrew E. Derocher. "Effects of climate warming on polar bears: a review of the evidence." Global Change Biology 18.9 (2012): 2694-2706. Wilson, Ryan R., et al. "Relative influences of climate change and human activity on the onshore distribution of polar bears." Biological Conservation 214 (2017): 288-294.