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The slow, steady loss of polar bear habitat represents a serious
threat to the survival of these animals. According to Durner, this
complete dependency on sea ice for survival potentially makes
the polar bear “one of the most at-risk large mammals to climate
change.”
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Many other scientists and environmental organizations
agree with this dismal prediction. The USGS projects that two-
thirds of earth’s polar bears will disappear by the year 2050.
Wildlife in Peril
Along with polar bears, countless other wildlife species are also
threatened by melting Arctic ice, although not necessarily in the
same way. As massive ice shelves and glaciers melt, an incred-
ible amount of water pours into the ocean, which in turn causes
sea levels to rise. Sea levels are also affected by rising ocean
temperatures. As seawater warms, it expands and takes up more
space, which causes even more of a rise in sea level. Scientists
warn that these changes will lead to severe flooding of coastal
areas throughout the world—and devastating consequences for
humans and wildlife.
The sea turtle is one species that is threatened by coastal
flooding. The reptiles use both marine and land habitats during
their life cycles, and a rise in sea level could destroy their nesting
beaches. According to the Sea Turtle Con-
servancy, the memories of sea turtles are
“imprinted” with a map of the sandy beach
where they once hatched. In an ancient
nesting ritual, female turtles return to the
same site over and over again to nest and
deposit their own eggs. “With melting po-
lar ice caps and rising sea levels,” the Sea
Turtle Conservancy writes, “these beaches
are beginning to disappear.”
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Another risk
to sea turtles is their sensitivity to ocean
water temperatures. As ocean water grows
warmer, it could negatively affect their food resources. Coral reefs,
which are an important food source for sea turtles and many oth-
er marine creatures, are already dying because of warming ocean
WORDS IN
CONTEXT
imprinted
To have a particu-
lar place recorded
in an animal’s
memory.
