THREATS OF THE POPULATION URSUS MARITIMUS FROM CANADIAN ARCTIC

Abstract

Polar bears are dependent on sea ice presence, what makes them vulnerable to climate changes. Their condition of population, reproduction ability and diet is strongly connected with occurrence of ice cover. As a result of sea surface water temperature rise in some regions, especially in Canadian area, where ice is melting much earlier than in previous years, abundance of polar bear?s offspring is 40-73% lower than few years ago. It can have a negative impact on this endemic Arctic species which can lead to its extinction.