One Earth | Getting to know Polar Bear

Polar bears are the iconic species of the Arctic Circle. They are the largest living bear species, weighing up to 1700 pounds. This size also makes them the largest land carnivore as they sit atop the Arctic food chain. Their diet primarily consists of seals, yet their survival is intricately linked to the presence of sea ice. Algae growing on sea ice forms the base of the food web in the Arctic ecosystem. Seals eat fish and other marine life that consume tiny creatures called zooplankton. These organisms eat the algae on sea ice, which are packed with carbon derived from sunlight. So rich in nutrients, biomarkers of energy obtained from sea ice can be detected in every species in the ecosystem, including polar bears. Therefore, the Arctic's health and the polar bear's survival are directly affected by sea ice levels. Studies show that the Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world. This warming is leading to drastic levels of sea ice melting, leaving the entire ecosystem in peril. Enacting global climate change policies that limit temperature rise is crucial for safeguarding the Arctic. Polar bears have become a symbol of the climate movement, a reminder that all life is interconnected from the smallest algae cell on sea ice to the largest bear roaming our shared planet.