General Discussion

Beringia

(4,316 posts) Mon Mar 4, 2019, 02:03 PM Mar 2019

Loss of Sea Ice Means Extinction of Polar Bears and Harp Seals, need Harp Seal Resting Platforms

https://www.sciencebuzz.com/the-effects-of-sea-ice-loss-on-harp-seals/

(I think this is a great idea to help save harp seals)

The rapid decrease of Arctic sea ice can be predicted through Global Climate Mode (GCMs). Through analyzing past data and developing GCMs, it is estimated that the Arctic will be ice-free in the next 30-50 years.

Since the Arctic sea ice is decreasing so drastically within the next 50 years, and is predicted to be ice-free by 2050, the harp seal population will be greatly affected. Research showed that sea ice is important to harp seal babies who are born and live on the ice for the first six weeks of their life, because they are not able to swim and hunt on their own. Due to this decline of ice the seals will have less area and weaker ice to give birth upon, nurse, and for the babies to grow. With more reduced ice it is likely that more and more pups will die due to the diminishing amount of stable ice. As a result, both polar bears and killer whales will have less harp seals to prey on, leading their population to possibly decline and forcing them to find a new food source. This decrease could also cause the Canadian Department of Fish and Ocean to lower the quota allotted to commercial seal hunters, decreasing their income. To help offset the absence of sea ice, it is proposed that a program be developed with the purpose of creating artificial nesting platforms to expand the seals’ nesting habitat, which in turn would increase the pups’ overall success rate.