Independent UK: Arctic's vanishing sea ice presents polar bear with a new danger – grizzlies

[marmar]

Arctic's vanishing sea ice presents polar bear with a new danger – grizzlies
Fears for future of gene pool as interbreeding between vulnerable species driven together by global warming gathers pace

By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Thursday, 16 December 2010


A possible polar/grizzly bear hybrid. The melting of the Arctic sea ice has forced polar bears into the territory of the grizzly


The rapid loss of sea ice in the Arctic is encouraging the formation of hybrids between related species which could accelerate the decline of some of the region's most vulnerable animals, a study has found.

Scientists believe that the diminishing area of the Arctic Ocean that is covered by floating sea ice is forcing the polar bear to come into closer contact with the related grizzly bear, resulting in hybrids that could threaten the distinctive gene pool of both species.

Other examples of hybrids in the Arctic region include a narwhal-beluga whale cross found in west Greenland and an apparent hybrid of a bowhead and right whale photographed in the Bering Sea in 2009. Porpoises and seals are also known to be involved in cross-breeding, the researchers said.

The first polar-grizzly hybrid to be spotted in the wild was shot by hunters in 2006. It was a white bear with brown patches and DNA tests subsequently confirmed that it was the result of cross breeding between the two species. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/arctics-vanishing-sea-ice-presents-polar-bear-with-a-new-danger-ndash-grizzlies-2161640.html

[Kennah]

1. There better not be any Caribou Barbie DNA in the sample