The Effects of Climate Change on the Survival of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) in Western Hudson Bay of the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

The Canadian Arctic is home to approximately two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population. In the Hudson Bay, polar bears are dependent on sea ice for survival and are now on the verge of extinction due to increased Arctic melt caused by climate change which greatly affects their survival during the open-water season. This research project aims to find out how the survival of polar bears in Western Hudson Bay has been affected by climate change during the open-water season. Relevant studies were reviewed to investigate how significant results have supported this research. In the Western Hudson Bay, climate change has reduced the ice coverage to about 50 percent from 1970 to 2004; this forces polar bears to fast seven to eight days earlier every decade. Thus, polar bears are forced to deal with prolonged periods of fasting during the open-water season, mainly due to the scarcity of goods, which greatly affects their survival.