POLAR REGIONS By Kajavia Woods Arkansas State University
OVERVIEW Life in the planet s polar regions can be difficult. Winter temperatures can reach deep into the negatives, and the winter night can last for months. But these seemingly empty landscapes are home to a rich diversity of wildlife both on land and in the sea that has evolved to survive these harsh conditions. Millions of people live in the Arctic, but no one lives their permanently. Antarctica is protected by a 1959 treaty that says that the continent can only be used for peace and science. Also, Antarctica like the rest of the world has been affected by climate change. The Arctic has also suffered from pollution, development by oil and gas industry, and overfishing.
OVERVIEW The polar regions include Antarctica, which is the second smallest continent, and the Arctic. It s a region primarily made up of the frozen Arctic Ocean that surrounds the North Pole. Land masses include islands and the northern parts of the European, Asia, and North American continents.
POLAR BEARS According to World Wild Life (WWF), polar bears are classified as marine animals because they spend nearly all of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. Polar bears have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellant coat that keeps the cold air and water out. They are talented swimmers and can swim six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat. Polar bears spend half their time hunting for food, and they mainly eat ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. They are endangered because of the ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change.
TA S K Write the population of polar bears in expanded form. Write the population of polar bears in word form. Polar bears are 6-9 feet in length and weigh between 800 1,300 pounds. The population of polar bears is between 22,000 31,000.
BROWN BEAR Physical Description Brown bears are huge they weigh up to 1,500 pounds. They are usually dark brown, but their coats vary from cream to almost black depending on the location of the species. Brown bears forage in the morning and the vegetation and rest during the day. Diet They are omnivores, and their diet varies by season. All year round they eat roots, insects, mammals, and honey. Population and Distribution In the polar region, there are around 30,000 brown bears, and the total global population is estimated to be more than 200,000. What are the main threats? Their main threat is hunting and habitat destruction.
TA S K Write the population of polar bears in expanded form. Write the population of polar bears in word form. Brown bear weigh up to 1,500 lbs. They are 6.5 ft. in length and 3.35 ft. tall. The population of brown bears is over 200,000.
ARCTIC WOLF Physical Description Arctic wolves are smaller than grey wolves. They also have smaller ears and shorter muzzles to retain body heat. Diet The arctic wolf mainly eats muskox, Arctic hares, and caribou. Distribution Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. What are the main threats? There greatest threat to the arctic wolf is climate change. Extreme weather variations have made it difficult for populations of muskox and Arctic hare to find food, and this has caused a decrease in numbers. In turn, this has reduced the traditional food supply of the Arctic Wolf. Also, the industrial development also poses a threat.
TASK WRITE THE WEIGHT OF THE AR CTIC WOLF IN EXPANDED FORM. WRITE THE WEIGHT OF THE AR CTIC WOLF IN WORD FORM. Arctic wolves weigh between 70-175 pounds and are between 3.2 to 5.9 feet in length.
SOURCES Arctic wolf. WWF, wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/profiles/mammals/arcticwolf/. Arctic. WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/places/arctic. Polar Regions. WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/habitats/polar-regions Brown Bear. WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/brownbear. Polar Regions, www.factmonster.com/world/world-geography/polar-regions.