Grizzly Bears Benefit from Global Warming

Though global warming doesn't hold much hope for the planet or the people living on it, a recent study shows that this environmental issue  could carry a bit of an upside for grizzly bears living in Alberta, Canada.

According to a 10-year study in which 112 bears in Alberta's Rocky Mountain region were monitored, University of Alberta biologist Scott Nielsen and colleagues found that warmer temperatures and easier access to food associated with forest disturbances actually helped grizzlies build up more body fat, which is known to increase the chances of successful reproduction for mothers.

Researchers note that this 'silver spoon effect' shows just how bears born into these conditions have a head start on life.

"Understanding variations in body size helps us understand what limits grizzly populations," Nielsen said, via a press release. He is also an assistant professor in the U of A Department of Renewable Resources. "We get clues about the environments that most suit grizzlies by examining basic health measures such as body size. A simple rule is, the fatter the bear, the better. Certain environments promote fatter bears.

The study notes that typically, warmer temperatures and less late winter snow accompanied by earlier spring conditions have helped the bears as adults grow larger and stronger. Smaller bears, in turn, were found in colder climates with less productive environments.

"We hypothesize that warmer temperatures in this ecosystem, especially during late winter and spring, may not be such a bad thing for grizzlies," Nielsen said, noting that historically the range for the bears once extended as far south as Mexico and persists today even in the deserts of Mongolia. "That suggests the species won't likely be limited by rising temperatures which would lengthen the growing season and the time needed to fatten prior to hibernation."

Nielsen concludes with the following, via the release.

"The diversity of stand ages in the landscape has a positive influence on body condition because bears are better able to access a wide range of food sources."

What do you think?