Polar Bears

Kerrie, Krystal, and Kyle

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~*~How it Evolved~*~

• As the polar bear evolved, its appearance became different from its brown bear ancestors

• Hair soon covered the whole body except for its nose and the pads of its feet

• The coat became white to blend in with the snow

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How its suited to live in the Environment

• The farther north an animal is found, the smaller its extremities, because of the need to conserve energy

• The polar bear became a true Arctic marine mammal because it now depends entirely on the sea for its existence

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Polar Bears learn and adapt very quickly

They often stop to think before acting and are healthily inquisitive

Polar be

ars can

survive

in hars

h,

changing

environ

ment.

Face (Nose)

• Polar bear has a much more keener sense of smell.

• They also have better eyesight.

• Brown bears have a dished face and Polar bears have a Roman Profile face.

The Paws

• Polar bears have bigger paws in order to swim.

• Function like snow shoes to spread out weight and keep from breaking the ice.

BrownBear

PolarBear

Fur

• Polar bears have warm, thick fur for swimming in the harshly cold water.

• The white bear has thicker fur than a brown bear has.

Teeth

• The polar bears teeth (canines) are more sharper and larger to tear through seals.

When the seasonal and annual ice is unpredictable, they tend to have a larger home range in order to ensure that they have

enough ice within this range.

The decrease in ice cover affects the seal population which is the polar bears’ main food source. Polar bears adapt to this change by learning to scavenge for seal remains.

Adapting to Decrease in Ice Coverage

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How cubs are suited to arctic life

The mother polar bear has very rich milk which provides the cub with the energy that is

necessary for life in a cold, harsh environment

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http://www.helium.com/items/374037-evolution-of-the-polar-bear

http://www.sheeptoshawl.com/news/data/upimages/cute_polar_bear.jpg

http://stateoftheart.popphoto.com/blog/images/2007/09/14/picture_3.png

http://www.cksinfo.com/clipart/animals/bears/polarbears/Polar-Bear-cubs.png

http://merrimerri.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/carseat.jpg

http://www.solarnavigator.net/animal_kingdom/animal_images/Polar_Bear_snow_2004.jpg

Picture Websites

Stirling, Ian. "The First Polar Bears." Poalr Bears. 21-22. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://books.google.com>

Science Online. Facts On File News Services. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.2facts.com/>

"Polar Bear Evolution." Polar Bears International. 2009. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-facts/polar-bear-evolution/>

"Determinants of Home Range Size for Polar Bears." Wiley InterScience. 1999-2009. John Wiley &Sons Inc. 16 Jan. 2009 <http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119087492/ abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0>

Works Cited