Wiig Øystein, Aars Jon, Born Erik W
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway.
Sci Prog. 2008;91(Pt 2):151-73. doi: 10.3184/003685008X324506.
In this article, we review the effects on polar bears of global warming that have already been observed, and try to evaluate what may happen to the polar bears in the future. Many researchers have predicted a wide range of impacts of climate change on polar bear demography and conditions. A predicted major reduction in sea ice habitat will reduce the availability of ice associated seals, the main prey of polar bears, and a loss and fragmentation of polar bear habitat will ultimately lead to large future reductions in most subpopulations. It is likely that polar bears will be lost from many areas where they are common today and also that the total population will change into a few more distinctly isolated populations.
在本文中,我们回顾了已经观察到的全球变暖对北极熊的影响,并试图评估北极熊未来可能会发生什么。许多研究人员预测了气候变化对北极熊种群统计学和生存状况的广泛影响。预计海冰栖息地的大幅减少将降低与冰相关的海豹的可获得性,而海豹是北极熊的主要猎物,北极熊栖息地的丧失和碎片化最终将导致未来大多数亚种群数量大幅减少。如今北极熊常见的许多地区可能会失去它们的踪迹,而且总体数量可能会变成几个更加明显孤立的种群。