antarcticawareness

[antarcticawareness]

Seals and Climate Change

Even though seals live in the ocean, they too are affected by climate change. Seals like the Arctic Fur Seal and the Harp Seal are being affected by climate change daily, but how you may ask? Read on to find out. 

How will they be Affected by Climate Change?

With the water warming up, their source of food; kale, algae and krill, will begin to die out, leading to the seals to having a low amount of food, changing their diet and having to compete with each other for a limited food source. Food is what gives them energy, and if they don't have that much to eat, then they won't be able to do daily activities such as swim. As we all know, the ice caps are melting and the amount of ice is decreasing. Because of this, the seals will lose a place where they rest and mate. 

How are they Affected Currently?

With the ice caps melting, some have already lost a place to give birth to. Because of this, some mothers have been forced to abandon their pups in the water, maybe even leading them to die. This can lead to having a decline in the seal population in the future.

[antarcticawareness]

Arctic Foxes and Climate Change

The Arctic Fox is one of the lesser known animals when it comes to the topic of arctic animals, but nonetheless, are still affected by climate change. These creatures are amazing at adapting to the environment, but how will they adapt to the new environment caused by climate change? Not much is known about how they're affected by climate change but keep on reading to know about the information that we know currently.

How will they be Affected by Climate Change?

With the ice caps melting, this can lead to them losing their homes and having to migrate to an environment where they aren't suited for, like scrublands and woodlands. In the snow, these foxes can be protected by predators by buring themselves in it. With the temperature warming, the snow will melt and the foxes won't have any protection against predators.

How are they Affected Currently?

Some Arctic Foxes have lost their homes, but not enough to information to have statistics of a decline. Overall, they haven't been affected that much, for now of course, but because of way of adapting to the environment, they seem to be okay. That doesn't mean we can't forget about them though.

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Polar Bears and Climate Change

When you think of Antartic animals, one of the first animal that comes to mind is the Polar Bear. Polar Bears are one of the most talked about animal when it comes to the topic of Climate Change. They are very disperse and can travel long distances throughout the Arctic, leading people to believe that they have a capacity to adapt to the environment. But how far can that capacity go with the help of some climate change? Read on to find out.

How will they be Affected by Climate Change?

As I said before, Polar Bears are very disperse, which makes them living in many places of the Arctic. They live primarily on sea ice, where they catch prey. With the climate becoming warmer, the ice will start to melt. This can lead to Polar Bears having a harder time to catch their food, losing their homes and, more extremely, becoming extinct. With the area getting smaller, they have to compete with the other bears to get food, leading some to be left with an empty stomach. With warmness, comes some sort collapsing or falling down and that's exactly what will happen to the Polar Bears’ homes. With the warm weather, the bears’ dens will collapse, having no protection for the family. Warming has also been linked to diseases and contamination, which is never great for animals without any sort of protection from that.

How are they Affected Currently?

Ice caps are melting, and the Polar Bear population has declined at a fast rate. According to WWF, there was  “a 40 percent population loss between 2001-2010 from 1,500 to 900 bears”. Thats a pretty big deal. As I mentioned, this can lead to them becoming extinct. Clearly, climate change is Polar Bears’ worst enemy, and to help the bears, we have to change course in our daily lives if we want to ensure their population from becoming gone in the near future.

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Penguins and Climate Change

The Adélie Penguin is currently one of the longest living penguin types in Antartica and also one—along with the Emperor Penguin—of the true Antarctic penguins. One of the reasons this amazing creature has lived so long is because of their amazing adaptive skills to the environment. But what if they were inroduced to a threat: Climate Change. Keep on reading to find out how these amazing creatures will be affected.

How will they be Affected by Climate Change?

One of the components that will be affected is the penguins diet. The warming of the sea can reduce the penguins pray, krill and fish, and can lead them to having less to eat and maybe even starvation. Another component is their nesting ways. With the ice they live on being melted, they won't be able to lay their eggs anywhere safely. 

How are they Affected Currently?

Currently, scientists have seen a decline of penguin colonies by 80%, but they also saw some colonies even grow. Not a striking effect has been seen so far though, but that doesn't mean we can't take action. There is a want for the establishment of marine protected areas in the places these penguins live, making outside factors not affecting Antartica's environment and ecosystem.