Environment

Polar Bears Shrinking Because of Pollution and Climate Change

by alia_d | August 26, 2009 at 03:46 pm

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Pollution and climate change are "stressing" polar bears out so much that they are shrinking.

In a study that was recently published in the Journal of Zoology, scientists found that physical "stress" caused by pollution and climate change has made it more difficult for polar bears to grow as large as they once did.

The scientists compared three hundred polar bear skulls from the last century and this one. The polar bear skulls changed in shape and shrunk size, indicating that polar bears became smaller.

The scientists think that pollution and melting ice make it harder for polar bears to hunt their prey. As a result, the polar bears became smaller because they had to spend less energy on growing and more energy on finding food. Their skulls may have also changed in size because of the impact of chemical pollutants.

"Because the ice is melting, the bears have to use much more energy to hunt their prey," explained Cino Pertoldi, professor of biology from Aarhus University and the Polish Academy of Science, and lead scientist in this study.

"Imagine you have two twins - one is well fed during its growth and one is starving. (The starving) one will be much smaller, because it will not have enough energy to allocate to growth."

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eastvanray

at 15:53 on August 26th, 2009

So long polar bears. You had a good run since mutating from Grizzlies during the last ice age. But you are not well suited to a non-ice age climate so thanks for the memories. Maybe an even cooler bear that is suited to warmer climates will replace you.

sara star

at 16:10 on August 26th, 2009

Who cares right? That's nature right? Heck as long as we can get oil, at least we will be OK?

Survival of the fittest, right?

Well nature will prevail longer than us, because it is bigger than you or I, and it doesn't give a damn about the oil.

The sad part is that the mighty polar bear leaves us alone, never bothers us, and we come change its habitat and bring the giant to its knees. Just isn't fair.

Rape and pillage....

eastvanray

at 16:17 on August 26th, 2009

No. You don't get it. Polar bears are not suited to even TODAY'S climate. Nevermind the warmer one comming up. They were a genetic sideshow, a branch of the bear family not the trunk. Why is it that people alway bemoan the "loss" of a species without celebrating the new species that are created from the same change in climate? It is a glass half full way of soing the world. Celebrate the new rather than trying to artificially extend the stay of old unsuitable species. This is not the first time the Earth has warmed up and it won't be the last. Like you said the planet will go on.