A recent study published in the journal Oikos reveals the significant role polar bears play in the Arctic ecosystem by providing food for other animals after making a kill. Unlike many other top predators that fiercely protect their meals, polar bears tend to leave behind leftover meat, offering an “ecosystem service” to scavengers.
According to the study, each polar bear contributes approximately 300 kilograms of meat annually, totaling a staggering 7.6 million kilograms for the 26,000 polar bears in the region. Holly Gamblin, a wildlife biologist at the University of Manitoba, emphasizes the irreplaceable ecological function of polar bears, as no other species fulfills this role.
Polar bears primarily target blubber from marine animals, such as seals and penguins, due to their specialized diet preferences. Geoff York, a polar bear researcher, notes that while polar bears may consume other parts of the prey if necessary, their focus remains on high-fat content like blubber.
The study also highlights the diverse range of animals benefitting from polar bear leftovers, including Arctic foxes, wolves, foxes, gulls, and grizzly bears. However, with polar bear populations declining due to climate change impacts, there is a growing concern about the potential loss of these crucial apex predators and the cascading effects on the Arctic ecosystem.
