A solitary polar bear swimming in an ice-free Arctic has become a symbol of the impact of a warming world on wildlife. However, the polar bears in the Barents Sea, north of Norway, seem to be faring well at present. Despite decades of melting sea ice and increasing ice-free days in the region, a recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that this specific polar bear subpopulation has not experienced the anticipated negative health effects.
According to Andrew Derocher, a biological sciences professor at the University of Alberta and co-author of the study, the bears in the Barents Sea are managing to adapt to the lack of sea ice and maintain their food intake to survive. This adaptation challenges the common perception of the detrimental impact of climate change on polar bears and highlights the variability within populations.
The research, based on data from live captures of polar bears between 1995 and 2019 in the Svalbard archipelago, involved studying 770 bears through capture-mark-and-recapture expeditions. Despite the changing Arctic landscape, which has led to earlier sea ice breakup and prolonged ice-free periods since 2005, the body conditions of polar bears in the Svalbard area have shown resilience and stability after an initial decline.
One factor that experts believe contributes to the bears’ sustained body condition is their consumption of alternative prey not typically part of their diet, such as walruses, bird eggs, and whale carcasses. This diverse food availability may be easier for the polar bears to access, reducing the energy they need to hunt and contributing to their overall well-being.
While the positive outlook for the Barents Sea polar bears is encouraging, experts caution that this adaptation may be temporary. Marie Auger-Méthé, a statistical ecologist at the University of British Columbia, emphasizes that not all polar bear populations are faring as well, with Canadian polar bears facing significant challenges due to declining sea ice affecting their body condition, survival, and reproduction.
The future of polar bears remains uncertain, with different regions experiencing varying impacts of climate change. Despite the current resilience of the Barents Sea bears, the long-term outlook for the species is concerning as the loss of sea ice continues. The ability of these bears to survive the changing climate remains uncertain, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts to protect this iconic species.
