Scientist reports polar bears in danger from melting sea ice
Thursday, February 08, 2007
By Melanie Stein
Speaking to a packed house of inquisitive Jacksonites, Dr. Steve
Amstrup, leading polar bear researcher in the United States, spoke
about the plight of the polar bear and changes in the Arctic.
For
25 years, Amstrup has conducted research primarily in the Beaufort Sea
region off Alaska and currently serves as Research Wildlife Biologist
with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Alaska Science Center.
Richard
Buchanan, President of Polar Bears International, and Daniel Cox, a
professional photojournalist and wildlife photographer, also spoke,
though Amstrup stole the show.
Amstrup displayed powerful
slides highlighting shifts in annual sea ice cover in the Arctic region
over the past 25 years, tracked largely by satellite imagery and buoy
monitoring.
Changes in sea ice coverage are significant for
polar bears, as their livelihood is closely tied to it, but also for
other species and the world.
“Polar bears are the sentinel
species for climate change,” Amstrup said in his talk, as they are the
universal symbol of the Arctic.
The Arctic has been undergoing
rapid changes as a result of warmer air and water temperatures and
shifts in ocean circulation patterns.
Polar bears are
dependent on sea ice for the majority of their life cycle needs,
Amstrup said, as they hunt for ringed and bearded seals – their
primary food sources – on the ice.
Some bears also dig dens in
snowdrifts on the ice where they have their cubs in the fall. Although
bears are adept swimmers, the ice is their true home.
In
addition to decreased sea ice coverage, sea ice is breaking up and
drifting into the North Atlantic earlier each year. This has forced
polar bears onto land, where they are less adept hunters and are often
food-deprived.
Amstrup and other researchers have noticed the
effect these changes are having on polar bear cub survival rate.
Females are still breeding, but their cubs are not making it on to the
next generation, he said.
The event, sponsored by the National
Museum of Wildlife Art, Richard and Valerie Beck, and Polar Bears
International was designed to inspire, inform and empower listeners to
make changes in their lives that will combat climate change and help
protect polar bear habitat.
At the end of the evening, several
of acclaimed photographer Daniel Cox’s books and one limited edition
photograph were raffled off to audience members who will now have the
opportunity to look at the majestic Arctic creatures from their homes.
Photo courtesy of NMWA. Steve Amstrup with polar bear cubs.
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Scientist reports polar bears in danger from melting sea ice | Planet JH News Article: General News
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