A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Early Edition on-line), is shaking up science’s view of polar bear evolution.
Previously, it had been suggested that the white bear of the north was a relatively young species that diverged from brown bears during the last glacial period. That glaciation started after the Eemian epoch (~125,000 years ago), peaking around 25,000 years ago. New genetic analysis pushes that estimated divergence back to 4-5 million years ago, though there seems to have been a significant level of interbreeding between the two species over time. Another important finding is that the polar bear population underwent a significant contraction around 500,000 years ago. According to this new information the polar bear has been around for much longer than previously thought, implying that it has survived many interglacial warm periods. In other words, those who think the polar bear cannot survive the shrinking of Arctic ice packs are dead wrong.
Another greenie FAIL moment.
Is there another kind of greenie moment?
Polar bears are obligate carnivores. Ice packs make their food much harder to get at. While they can switch to land animals (i.e. Arctic hares) during the winter, I’m sure they would rather eat those tasty little baby seals that are always playing in the water near the shore.
Polar bears are white brown bears. They’ll eat whatever they find. Just not many nuts and berries on the ice floes.