the tundra biome
the polar bear
THE ARCTIC TUNDRA
The Tundra Biome is the coldest biome of them all, this is a treeless plain and is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, little precipitation, short growing seasons, extremely low temperatures, and poor nutrients. The arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, extending south and encircling the north pole. The arctic is know for its cold desert like conditions, the temperatures of the arctic tundra ranges from -30 to 54 F. The average winter temperature is -30 and the growing season is never longer that 60 days. The arctic does have a summer its temperatures range from 37 to 54 and this is what helps the tundra sustain life.
Does the polar bear comes to mind when you think of the arctic tundra? Today the polar bear is listed as a vulnerable species, this is strongly due to habitat loss. According to the Bronx Zoo they are only estimating 25,000 polar bears are left in the wild, and possible extinction is coming in the next century. In the past 50 years the global climate changes has drastically decreased the sea ice, which these bears depend on. The ice is planned to continue to decrease in the upcoming years.
Seeing that polar bear is struggling to live in the wild the polar bear at the Bronx Zoo could grow up to be about six and a half to eight feet long and could weigh up to 1,674 pounds. In the wild it is very important for the bear to have his home range of 90 to 186 square miles. The bears also depend on the ice pack, they hunt and live most of the time on this and depend on the seasonal freezing and melting. Some bears even live on the ice pack all year round.
Does the polar bear comes to mind when you think of the arctic tundra? Today the polar bear is listed as a vulnerable species, this is strongly due to habitat loss. According to the Bronx Zoo they are only estimating 25,000 polar bears are left in the wild, and possible extinction is coming in the next century. In the past 50 years the global climate changes has drastically decreased the sea ice, which these bears depend on. The ice is planned to continue to decrease in the upcoming years.
Seeing that polar bear is struggling to live in the wild the polar bear at the Bronx Zoo could grow up to be about six and a half to eight feet long and could weigh up to 1,674 pounds. In the wild it is very important for the bear to have his home range of 90 to 186 square miles. The bears also depend on the ice pack, they hunt and live most of the time on this and depend on the seasonal freezing and melting. Some bears even live on the ice pack all year round.
Interesting Facts:
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THE BRONX ZOO
The Bronx Zoo is home to a few of the favored bear, the children's favorite bear to look at is not always the friendliest. The polar bear weighing in at 330-1,674 pounds can smell their prey from 20 miles away and is very sneaky when it comes to hunting time. They sit above the seals air holes an awaits its prey and as soon as the prey surfaces the bear attacks and theirs no escape now. They have a dense, thick undercoat of fur and are protected by an outer coat of long guard hairs that stick together when wet, forming a waterproof barrier to keep them dry. Even though polar bears look white, their hair is really made of clear, hollow tubes filled with air. Polar bears have black skin. A layer of 2 to 4 inches of blubber helps insulate polar bears from the freezing air and cold water, and acts as a nutritional reserve when food can’t be found. This blubber also helps the bears float in the water.
The bears at the zoo cannot be fed the same diet of ringed seals, in the wild they may also eat birds, berries, mosses and grasses. The bears are the zoo are fed a mixture of slaughter by-product and vegetables as before stated with other animals, the bears in the zoo aren't in need of as much food as they would eat in the wild because the animals aren't burning as many calories.
The enclosures the bears live in are thought of and well planned out but not the same as the wild, each bear in the wild gets 90 to 186 square miles to its self! The enclosure at the zoo is not even close to what they experience in the wild, and what does the zoo do with the animals on extremely hot days? The bears spend most of their time in the water playing with the toys the zoo gives them. The zoo keeps the water much colder than the outside temperatures to let the polar bears have a spot to cool off. Again the zoo habitat for the polar bears is a totally different layout then the wild for the bear and doesn't let them experience the feeling of what the tundra actually feels like. The zoo is where they grew up and the animals might not know any better but they are defiantly not experiencing the real feel of the wild.
The bears at the zoo cannot be fed the same diet of ringed seals, in the wild they may also eat birds, berries, mosses and grasses. The bears are the zoo are fed a mixture of slaughter by-product and vegetables as before stated with other animals, the bears in the zoo aren't in need of as much food as they would eat in the wild because the animals aren't burning as many calories.
The enclosures the bears live in are thought of and well planned out but not the same as the wild, each bear in the wild gets 90 to 186 square miles to its self! The enclosure at the zoo is not even close to what they experience in the wild, and what does the zoo do with the animals on extremely hot days? The bears spend most of their time in the water playing with the toys the zoo gives them. The zoo keeps the water much colder than the outside temperatures to let the polar bears have a spot to cool off. Again the zoo habitat for the polar bears is a totally different layout then the wild for the bear and doesn't let them experience the feeling of what the tundra actually feels like. The zoo is where they grew up and the animals might not know any better but they are defiantly not experiencing the real feel of the wild.