Scientists have studied the behavior and diet of polar bears that inhabit the northern coast of Alaska, and said that global warming can destroy these animals faster than anticipated. The findings of the researchers were published in the journal Science.

The researchers observed nine female polar bears living near the Beaufort Sea. For the observations they chose the female, because their physique allows to fix on the neck of the animal a collar with a camera and GPS-sensors. The neck of the males is wider than the head, so the collar could slip off.

Before the beginning of the experiment, the animals were briefly euthanized with the help of veterinary injection darts. While the bears "slept", scientists took from them samples of blood and urine and put on animals collars with sensors. Then the animals were injected with water labeled with stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen. This technology allows you to find out how much energy the body consumes: after a few days the researchers measure the concentration of these isotopes in the urine. Secondary blood and urine samples were taken from bear in 8-11 days after the start of the experiment. The researchers conducted this procedure for three consecutive years, from 2014 to 2016.

It turned out that on the day the bear needs about 12 thousand kilocalories. Animals spent about 60% more energy than suggested earlier studies. Every 10-12 days the bear was eaten by one ringed seal or up to 19 young seals. Up to 90% of the time the animals were carried out, waiting for the production to appear at the breathing holes in the ice. Dipper, who could not catch game within 10-12 days, began to lose weight quickly: during this time they dropped to 20 kg. In some females during the fasting, not only the volume of fat decreased, but also muscle tissue.

According to the researchers, in the future, bears will become even more difficult to hunt, since the reduction of the area of ??ice due to the growth of temperatures reduces the area of ??the ringed seal - the main food of the bears. According to researchers, hungry bears are less prolific, so the population of the species decreases.

However, other studies show that bears are trying to adapt to climate change and switch to a different diet.

Source: ZN.