Polar bears face numerous threats to their habitats, food sources, and hunting grounds. Recent studies have shown that if we don’t do more to combat climate change, the arctic bear species may die out within the century.
Like many at-risk species, polar bears need our help. And according to a new study, protecting them could do more than just helping a single species; it may be a way to promote biodiversity across the Arctic as a whole.
The study, which investigated conservation strategies for arctic species, was led by researchers at the University of Alberta and published in Arctic Science.
Many arctic species are at risk of extinction, thanks in part to the large impact that the climate crisis has had on the Arctic. Yet determining exactly where conservation efforts for at-risk species should be focused can be tricky.
This is especially true in the case of marine animals, because we lack data on where these species gather. And without knowing where the animals are, it can be difficult to establish Marine Protected Areas: designated geographical regions where marine life is protected from human impacts.
This is where the polar bears come in. According to the authors of the present study, polar bears can act as a conservation “umbrella”: by protecting polar bears’ habitats, we also naturally end up protecting the habitats of all the species polar bears rely on. This includes various species of seals, fish, and seaweed. In turn, polar bears also end up benefiting the ecosystems they live in — for example, carcasses left over by polar bears can end up feeding other animals.
In their study, the authors looked at 20 years’ worth of satellite data targeting 355 polar bears in the Hudson Bay region in order to identify where the bears tended to spend their time — which in turn could help pinpoint regions of high priority for conservation efforts.
They were able to identify a zone of roughly 66,000 square kilometres, which they put forward as a possible location for a new Marine Protected Area. By protecting this high-traffic area for polar bears, the authors explain, we can also help protect all other species that fall under the polar bear “umbrella”.
“By leveraging the extensive data we have on polar bears, we can help design [Marine Protected Areas] that safeguard both the bears and the vast network of Arctic species that rely on them,” said Nicholas Pilfold, a scientist at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and co-author on the study, in a news release.
The authors also note that polar bears are charismatic animals, with high cultural and economic importance for people living in the Arctic. Focusing conservation efforts on polar bears could also therefore be a good way to garner public support.
Given the ever-changing climate situation in the Arctic, targeted conservation strategies are important. The authors see polar bear-focused efforts as a strong path forward.
“In the rapidly warming Arctic, marine ecosystems will be stressed by the additive effects of industrial activity,” said Andrew Derocher, a professor of biological sciences and first author on the study.
“[P]olar bear location data provide a path to designing marine protected areas.”
