In an era marked by the significant impact of climate change, a recent study has found startling revelations about the survival strategies of polar bears in the Arctic as they grapple with melting sea ice. The study deployed collar cameras on polar bears to closely monitor their behaviour as they are increasingly forced to rely on the land for sustenance.
The research tracked the diet, behaviour, movement, daily energy expenditure, and body mass changes in 20 polar bears from western Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. This monitoring was carried out during a three-week ice-free period from 2019 to 2022. The results shed light on the adaptive mechanisms polar bears are resorting to in order to survive.
The polar bears were found to have adopted various strategies to reduce energy loss during these ice-free periods. These included fasting, reducing movement, and altering their diets to consume berries and birds. A testament to the resilience of these magnificent creatures, these survival strategies are a direct response to the rapid loss of sea ice.
Despite these adaptations, the study found that the bears derived minimal benefit from foraging on land in terms of delaying starvation. In a significant revelation, 19 out of 20 bears were found to lose weight during the study period. This points to the worrying impact of climate change on polar bears, who, despite resorting to a land-based diet during summer, are still losing weight due to the energy expenditure in foraging. Read More
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