Global Warning
James D. Lee Jr.
English 111
Explaining a Concept Essay
V.W. Brame
Feb 16, 2008
How will the Polar Bears survive the flooding of the Ice Caps?? The chief threat to the polar bear is the loss of its sea ice habitat due to global warming.
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation as a result of the activities of humans.
The Endangered Species Act enabled in 1973, was enacted to save plant and animal species to the point they will not longer needs the law’s protections. In 2007, The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to add the polar bears to list of protected species and by doing so; the polar bears will receive legal protections. It maybe there only chances to survive the global warming phenomenon as the number of polar bears are dropping.
As a result of the loss of habitat, the percentage of polar bear cubs surviving has fallen to an estimated forty three percent. The loss of habitat equates to a loss of food supplies. The polar bears are losing weight which would help them carry cubs through the hibernation period.
To help the wildlife cope with the stress caused by the climate change, natural resources must take action to reduce stress on the animals and plants. The polar bear population relies heavily on the Artic coastal plain for denning and hunting.
As Arctic sea ice disappears, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the Arctic coastal plain will become increasingly important for the polar bear. The Refuge has the highest concentration of on-shore denning polar bears in the Arctic.
The Polar Bears are only expected to survive through the end of the century. By 2050, nearly two thirds of the polar bears population will be killed off because of global warming, resulting in the melting of the Artic ice caps.
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