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Out of Balance in the Arctic
Article

Out of Balance in the Arctic

Polar bears have high energy requirements that rise further as a result of climate change

John P. Whiteman
Science, 2018
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Innovative
  • Scientific

Recommendation

Bear metabolism expert John Whiteman rigorously assesses this landmark polar bear study, outlining the novel molecular approach that leads to important insights for polar bear conservation. He explains how polar bear metabolism militates against polar bear survival in the face of climate change. He also cautions that both seasonal and reproductive changes in metabolism remain unknown, but could significantly impact their chances of survival. getAbstract recommends this article for anyone concerned with arctic ecosystems and their broad impact on climate change.

Summary

How do researchers measure polar bears energy demands?

In the past, researchers predicted polar bears’ energy demands based on their weight or food intake. This is the first time researchers have used biochemistry to accurately measure polar bear energy expenditure. By measuring oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, the researchers calculated the energy burned by both wild and captive polar bears. The researchers measured the metabolic demands of a sedentary polar bear in captivity to determine its metabolism at rest, which...

About the Author

John Whiteman is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of New Mexico and consultant for the San Diego Zoo Conservation Institute. He uses biochemical tracing methods to study bear metabolism.

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