Polar Bears May Be Solving Their Own Problems—But Not For Long

While researchers and diplomats all over the world are attempting to deal with the issues of climate change, the United Nations in particular who are trying to unite all nations in a collective effort, it's the animal species at the Earth's poles that are facing this change on the front line. And though the valiant efforts made in recent summits have yet to amount to much change, it appears that animals in the Arctic are finding a solution of their own- well, a temporary one at least.

In a new study published this week in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers with the U.S. Geological Society reveal that species are attempting to mitigate changing climates by adapting to new habitats and niche environments even further north. The distribution shifts appear to be subtle and gradual, though most apparent in the species of polar bears. 

"There are a number of other Arctic species that have shifted distributions with the loss of sea ice" researcher with the University of Washington's Polar Science Center, Kristin Laidre says.

Though other species are also making the move, lead researcher of the study Elizabeth Peacock focused particularly on polar bear species because of the significant losses in sea ice in the Arctic. A vital, yet diminishing, platform on which these bears mate, migrate, hibernate and prey on, the loss of significant amounts of sea ice indicated to USGS researchers that the bears may have to find another way to survive.

"In general, polar bears move with their habitat" Peacock says. "Sea ice is like a moving sidewalk and they travel with it."

"Bears likely move towards places with better access to prey and mates."

Finding their way farther north, even in absence of sea ice, over the last 15 to 45 years polar bears have significantly shifted their distribution towards the northern Canadian Archipelago. DNA analyses reveal found directional gene flow through genetically similar clusters of polar bears, indicating a shift farther north as more and more of the polar bears come to call the archipelago their home. 

But in spite of the prospects of the polar bears finding new niche habitats and new homes, there still lies a great concern in the shift. With diminishing ice to move on, the polar bears are forced to swim greater distances in expanses of open water, and walk farther distances on solid land. This leads researchers to fear that the bears may begin "walking hibernations" wherein they continue to move through sea and land fasting along the way.

"The longer the ice-free period" Peacock says, "the longer the time without feeding."