Daniel Bain

Goals Present background

information about the Polar Bear’s life history and ecology

Discuss threats to the Polar Bear population

Examine past and current conservation efforts

Evaluate the future of Polar Bear conservation

Habitat Live exclusively in ice

covered waters of Arctic

19 populations worldwide, with a total of 20,000-25,000 bears

Range covers Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States

Life History Lifespan: 15-18 years in the

wild, into mid-30s in captivity

Age of reproduction: 5-6 years

Gestation period: 8 months Litter size: 1-2 cubs Short lifespan, late

reproduction and small litter size leads to one of the lowest reproduction rates among mammals

Females only produce ~5 litters in their lifetime

Why is Conservation Important? Listed as

Vulnerable by IUCN

Population predicted to decrease by 30% in the next ~50 years(Aars,2005)

Possibly extinct by 2100

Acts as indicator species for overall Arctic health, and climate change

Threats

Climate Change

Hunting

Oil Development and Pollution

Climate Change Most severe threat Melting ice cap leads

to smaller and fragmented habitat

Some predict ice cap will disappear entirely during summers by 2100

Due to low reproduction rates, long generation span, and low genetic diversity, the polar bear does not adapt well to drastic changes in habitat

Climate Change

Increased fragmentation causes bears to swim longer distances

Polar bears are capable swimmers, but increased swimming is energetically taxing, and can be life threatening

Increased swimming distances also leads to higher incidences of drowning (Pagano et al, 2012)

Climate Change As ice melts and habitat shrinks, bears are forced onto

dry land for extended periods of time

Energetically taxing; rely on stored fats for survival

Being on dry land makes polar bears more susceptible to hunting

Hunting Polar bears have been

hunted for food, hides, and other handiworks

Drastic decline in populations before regulations were made

Over-harvesting still exists as result of poor inventory in some areas

Arctic Oil Development Oil spills and increased

human interactions

Oil exposure contaminates food and diminishes insulating properties of polar bear fur

Human disturbances at or near maternity den sites can cause mothers to abandon the den and their cubs(Aars,2005)

Pollution Many pollutants are

lipophillic(fat-loving) Polar bears have fat rich

diet, eating mainly seals Cubs are exposed to

pollutants as well from their mothers’ milk, which is also high in fat

Pollutants can affect immune system, growth, hormone regulation, and decreases reproduction rates(Knot et al, 2012)

Conservation Efforts 1965-All 5 countries meet in International Scientific

Meeting on the Polar Bear.

1973-sign International Polar Bear Agreement

Most important influence on management and research, but not enforceable by law

Hunting of polar bears completely banned in Russia in 1956; in Norway in 1973

United States, Canada and Greenland have hunting regulations

All populations witnessed some re-growth initially

Future Considerations Better inventory needed. Despite regulations, some areas

have poor inventory, making hunting difficult to manage

Still, climate change is the main threat. Rapidly shrinking/fragmenting habitat biggest issues

Direct threats(harvesting) have been controlled.

Indirect threats (Pollution, oil development, climate change) need to adressed.

More research into climate change needed

Shows importance of need for awareness of pollution and climate change and its effects

Summary The polar bear has a very low

reproduction rate, making it difficult for it to adapt to changes in its habitat

Classified as Vulnerable Climate change, and to a lesser

extent pollution, Arctic oil development and hunting, are the main threats to its conservation

Many steps have been taken to conserve the polar bear

In the end, the polar bear’s conservation shows the importance of monitoring our own actions and their consequences

References Knot, KK, D. Boyd, GM Ylitalo, and TM O'Hara. "Lactational Transfer of Mercury and

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Polar Bears." Chemosphere 88.4 (2012): 395-402. Print. Stirling, Ian, and Andrew E. Derocher. "Effects of Climate Warming on Polar Bears: A

Review of the Evidence." Global Change Biology 18 (2012): 2694-706. Print. Pagano, AM, GM Durner, SC Amstrup, KS Simac, and GS York. "Long-distance

Swimming by Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) of the Southern Beaufort Sea during Years of Extensive Open Water." Canadian Journal of Zoology 90.5 (2012): 663-76. Print.

Sahanatien, V., and AE Derocher. "Monitoring Sea Ice Habitat Fragmentation for Polar Bear Conservation." Animal Conservation 15.4 (2012): 397-406. Print.

Ferguson, SH, D. Berteaux, AJ Gaston, JW Hidgon, N. Lecomte, N. Lunn, ML Mallory, J. Reist, D. Russell, NG Yoccoz, and X. Zhu. "Time Series Data for Canadian Arctic Vertebrates: IPY Contributions to Science, Management, and Policy." Climate Change 115.1 (2012): 235-58. Print.

"Polar Bear Status & Population." Polar Bears International. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears/essentials/current-status>.

Aars, Jon, ed. (June 2005) (PDF). Polar Bears. 32. 14th Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, Nicholas J. Lunn and Andrew E. Derocher. Seattle, Washington, United States: IUCN. ISBN 2-8317-0959-8. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.(29):33-55.

"Ursus Maritimus." (Polar Bear). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22823/0>.