In a just published paper in the peer-reviewed journal Arctic Science, the researchers report they have documented the presence of polar bears, black bears and grizzlies in Wapusk National Park on the west coast of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba.
“These sightings are consistent with expected ecological responses to the amplified effects of climate change on high-latitude ecosystems,” said lead author Douglas Clark, a conservation scientist at the USask School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS). “Our observations add to growing evidence that grizzlies are substantially increasing their range in northern Canada.”
The north is warming rapidly and accelerating the rate of biological, physical, ecological and social impacts, the researchers say in the article, Novel range overlap of three ursids in the Canadian subarctic.
The response of bears to climate change may include seeking new or expanded habitats and new food sources, resulting in increased inter-species interactions, Clark said. Wapusk is located at the convergence of boreal forest, tundra and ocean ecosystems that are all changing quickly with climate change.
Continue reading at University of Saskatchewan.
Image via University of Saskatchewan.