Vulnerable Polar Bear: Environmental Analysis

As we get glimpse of the understanding of the vulnerability of human and natural systems caused by climate change, we are reminded of how climate change is not only effecting physical features of our world, but also communities, people, plants and animals. Within this reflection, I will be discussing a {video}, which highlights the human vulnerability from climate change. Hassol (2004) will also been discussed and how climate change has impacted areas, such as the Arctic. The third topic of discussion will be from Carr (2014) who goes into detail about the impact of climate change and the effects it has on threatened species. These references will provide information on what these vulnerabilities look like and also a personal reflection on …show more content…
Specifically, when discussing the impacts to the arctic wildlife, especially to the polar bears, it highlights how major these vulnerabilities are and how major the impacts to these systems can be. Within this essay, the major topic of discussion will be the noted impacts to the vulnerable polar bear and this essay will highlight the observed changes that scholars note about this animal. Much of the on the impacts to the wildlife in the artic highlight many of the different aspects to their vulnerability. Although, for the purpose of this essay, we will look at their discussion about how the climate change has impacted the habit and food supply of these wildlife, specifically the polar bear (Peacock, Derocker, Thiemann, and Stirling, 2011; Polar Shift, 2016; Molná et al., 2010). In order to have this discussion, Peacock et al. (2011), Polar Shift (2016), and Molná et al. (2010) will be …show more content…
Polar bears rely on the sea-ice for hunting (Polar Shift, 2016) and without it, their availability to hunt decreases because of their prey being less accessible (Molná et al., 2010). Polar Bears rely on the sea-ice for survival, specifically when they are hunting since their primary prey are seals, which are usually found on this habitat (Peacock et al., 2011). Therefore, with these impacts to sea-ice, the polar bear’s food supply decreases, which then requires them to have more energy for hunting (Molná et al., 2010). The increase of travel for polar bears can be difficult because they will need to travel longer to food, but have less energy to do so (Molná et al., 2010). With the decline in sea-ice, this also impacts the population of polar bears (Peacock et al., 2011). Specifically, this decrease reduces the travel of the polar bears and as well as their mating (Molná et al., 2010). Hence in order for polar bears to survive and be able to gain the energy they need for survival, they rely on the relationship they have with people (Polar Shift, 2016). Specifically, they rely on the left over meat from animal carcasses that are left from people hunting there (Polar Shift,

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