Global warming threatens collapse of most polar bear populations by end of century.
A new U of T Scarborough-led study with CIRES coauthors finds that we can expect the collapse of most polar bear populations by the end of the century if global warming continues at the current pace.
The Nature Climate Change study is the first to offer timelines showing how Arctic sea ice loss will impact the ability of polar bears to reproduce and survive since they will have to endure longer periods without food.
“The challenge is that Arctic sea ice will keep disappearing as the world continues to warm,” says lead author Péter Molnár, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at U of T Scarborough.
“This means polar bears everywhere will face longer periods without food, and this will affect their ability to reproduce, survive and persist as healthy populations.”
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