It seems that many difference species of animals in the arctic could become extinct due to this expansion of cross breeding particularly endangered species like the polar bear. Different types of whales, bears and seals could end up mating with one another creating hybrid offspring that will immensely decrease the biodiversity in the artic. One source has said that 22 species could hybridize into as much as 34 different combinations. It is also said that the hybrid offspring of these animals often will be infertile and more prone to disease. In 2006, a bear with a patchy white and brown coat was shot in the Canadian Arctic and a dna test had proved it to be a polar bear and grizzly bear hybrid is just some of the proof that it is going on.
My response to this story is that it is very interesting that this hybridization of species in the artic is going on, but if it means the extinction of endangered species it could end up being a problem. It just proves that there really is a problem in the arctic. If it is causing a drastic phenomenon such as this and whether is due to humans or not it really is I an eye opener. I can see the positive results from this like species better adapted to a new environment , but you just can’t help to see that the there are negative effects. I don’t want to see so many endangered species become extinct, but you just can’t stop this hybridization when arctic is melting at such an amazingly fast rate. These animals are only doing what they have to do to survive if any ones responsible its us, but the nature process of climate change certainly doesn’t help.
Source
News Source: LA Times
Title: Arctic ice melt may promote cross-breeding, further imperiling endangered animals
Date: Dec 16
Author: Amina Khan
No comments:
Post a Comment