Predicting climate change impacts on polar bear litter size

Péter K. Molnár (), Andrew E. Derocher, Tin Klanjscek and Mark A. Lewis
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Péter K. Molnár: University of Alberta
Andrew E. Derocher: University of Alberta
Tin Klanjscek: Ruđer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, Bijenicčka 54, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia.
Mark A. Lewis: University of Alberta

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Predicting the ecological impacts of climate warming is critical for species conservation. Incorporating future warming into population models, however, is challenging because reproduction and survival cannot be measured for yet unobserved environmental conditions. In this study, we use mechanistic energy budget models and data obtainable under current conditions to predict polar bear litter size under future conditions. In western Hudson Bay, we predict climate warming-induced litter size declines that jeopardize population viability: ∼28% of pregnant females failed to reproduce for energetic reasons during the early 1990s, but 40–73% could fail if spring sea ice break-up occurs 1 month earlier than during the 1990s, and 55–100% if break-up occurs 2 months earlier. Simultaneously, mean litter size would decrease by 22–67% and 44–100%, respectively. The expected timeline for these declines varies with climate-model-specific sea ice predictions. Similar litter size declines may occur in over one-third of the global polar bear population.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1183

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