The **Arctic thaw** not only threatens **polar bears**, but also endangers all [polar fauna](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/capturan-por-primera-vez-en-video-a-un-oso-polar-cazando-y-comiendose-un-reno/). Although these large bears are among the most affected by the **reduction of sea ice**, the temperature increase alters the **balance of the entire ecosystem**, putting numerous species at risk, even those whose suffering goes unnoticed.
Dependent on sea ice for their survival, **the temperature increase represents a deadly threat for this species**. The disappearance of the ice floe turns their environment into a dangerous trap, as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), unlike other species, does not hibernate.
This carnivore, the largest of its kind on the planet, faces an adverse scenario with the reduction of ice. **It needs extensive frozen surfaces to move, hunt, and reproduce**. With the reduction of ice, it must travel longer distances to feed, which implies an extra energy expenditure that can be fatal. Additionally, this additional effort makes it more prone to serious injuries, as revealed by a study from the University of Washington, which found **a relationship between the melting of sea ice and conditions such as hair loss, ulcers, and skin cuts**.
As the ice decreases, so does their main food source, increasing the risk of starvation, especially for the cubs. According to the WWF organization, if the current trend continues, **by 2050 the polar bear population could decrease by 30%**. Some experts, like Ian Stirling from the University of Alberta, believe that these animals may not survive in the long term in their natural habitat, being replaced by other predators such as orcas.
## Walruses: the challenge of adapting to a changing environment
Pacific walruses, which depend on sea ice to rest, reproduce, and protect themselves from predators, also **face serious challenges due to global warming**. In regions like the Chukchi Sea, between America and Russia, many are forced to spend more time on land, increasing their vulnerability.
This change implies traveling longer distances to find food, which raises their stress levels and decreases their energy reserves. Additionally, the loss of sea ice **increases the likelihood of encounters with humans**, raising the risk of conflicts.
Sea ice not only provides them with a safe refuge but is also **essential for their reproduction**. Walruses give birth on the ice floe in early spring and usually mate on the edges of floating ice blocks. Its disappearance represents a **serious threat** to the survival of this species, which took hundreds of thousands of years to adapt to its environment.
## Narwhals: stress and thaw, a dangerous combination
Narwhals, known for their characteristic spiral tusk, have survived **extreme climate changes** throughout history. However, **global warming** is affecting their habitat in unprecedented ways.
These cetaceans depend on sea ice for their life cycle: in summer, they move to ice-free waters, but in winter, they seek shelter under thick ice layers in the sea. **The reduction of these surfaces could affect their feeding**, as they usually consume most of their food in winter after migrating north. With less ice, prey decreases, jeopardizing their ability to complete their migratory cycle.
Additionally, thawing has opened new maritime routes, increasing ship traffic in the Arctic. This increased activity generates an additional problem: **ship noise causes high levels of stress in narwhals**, according to a study led by marine biologist Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen. The research revealed that the fear of engine noise can paralyze them and reduce their heart rate, affecting their oxygenation capacity, something crucial for their survival.
## The Arctic Fox: the tundra, becoming less habitable
The Arctic fox, **a species adapted to extreme winters**, is witnessing how its habitat changes drastically. Its survival is linked to the presence of small rodents like lemmings and voles, whose population fluctuates according to climatic conditions.
In warmer winters, the snow cover that protects these rodents is less stable, reducing their survival capacity. Additionally, with milder temperatures, southern species start to move towards the Arctic, increasing competition for resources and favoring the **spread of diseases that can be lethal to the Arctic fox**.
## An ecosystem at risk due to thaw: changes in the food chain base
Thaw and its impact not only **affect large mammals** but also the **microscopic organisms that support the food chain**. Among them, photosynthetic algae living under sea ice play a key role in the ecosystem.
In spring, these algae bloom with the return of sunlight, providing food for small crustaceans like copepods, essential for the diet of many species, from fish like Arctic cod to seabirds and whales. However, **the reduction of the ice layer alters their growth cycle**, which can have devastating consequences for the entire Arctic food web.
Ultimately, the **climate crisis** is radically transforming polar ecosystems. From the polar bear to the tiniest copepod, the Arctic fauna faces an uncertain future as **the ice disappears** at an alarming rate.
## The implications of thaw
Thaw has direct and indirect consequences on the planet, such as **rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, and global warming**.
### Direct consequences
– **Rising sea levels:** The melting of glaciers and polar ice caps raises sea levels, threatening coastal communities and causing floods.
– **Ocean warming:** Thawing causes the oceans to warm, affecting fish production.
– **Extreme weather events:** Thawing is related to the alteration of world climatology and the occurrence of increasingly extreme weather events.
### Indirect consequences of thaw
– **Loss of biodiversity:** Thaw alters the habitats of marine and terrestrial species, affecting food webs and populations of other species.
– **Acceleration of global warming:** Thaw releases methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, which can create a feedback cycle that further accelerates global warming.
– **Threat to indigenous communities:** Thaw threatens the traditional way of life of indigenous communities living in polar regions.
Thaw is **caused by human activities such as deforestation**, the use of fossil fuels, transportation, and industrial activities.
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