Climate Change: Polar Bears and Snow Geese

[CouesPursuit]

In areas surrounding the Hudson Bay, polar bears are shifting diets from seals to geese eggs and goslings. Snow geese numbers in recent decades have skyrocketed and their summer breeding habitat in the arctic has been decimated.

 

Bear predation on the eggs and goslings probably won't make a dent but there are still lots of interesting unknowns with this one!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/science/for-polar-bears-a-climate-change-twist.html?_r=1

 

[AZkiller]

Can't be, there aren't any more polar bears cuz a global warming!

[Snapshot]

According to Al Gore, the polar ice cap was supposed to be melted already.

[DesertBull]

U.N. Chief Marc Morano sent out an absurd tweet last night urging his fans to follow his lead in calling climate change something new — “climate disruption.” Why? Because “it’s more accurate.”

 

Global Warming.....oops, earth is cooling.

 

Climate Change......oops climate has been changing for eons.

 

Climate disruption......yeah that it. Now let us raise taxes!!!!!

[CouesPursuit]

Intent wasn't to stir up a climate change debate but to share an amazing response of bears to a surplus of a food source. Political agendas don't change the fact that these polar bears are capitalizing on the snow goose habitat dilemma.

[naturegirl]

The polar bears are adapting to the available food source. Adaption is the key to a species survival.

[Snapshot]

Bear will forage the easiest food.However, it would take a lot of gooslings/eggs to sustain a bear that weighs over a 1000 pounds.

[Jimmer Negamanee]

The polar bears are adapting to the available food source. Adaption is the key to a species survival.

Agreed. I just don't know what the long-term effects of their short-term adaptation will be.

 

Here's an interesting quote:

 

"Myth: We have to save the earth. Frankly, the earth doesn't need to be saved. Nature doesn't give a hoot if human beings are here or not. The planet has survived cataclysmic and catastrophic changes for millions upon millions of years. Over that time, it is widely believed, 99 percent of all species have come and gone while the planet has remained. Saving the environment is really about saving our environment -- making it safe for ourselves, our children, and the world as we know it. If more people saw the issue as one of saving themselves, we would probably see increased motivation and commitment to actually do so." -Robert M. Lilienfeld, management consultant and author (b. 1953) and William L. Rathje, archaeologist and author (b. 1945)