Adaptation of Polar Bear
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How has the Polar Bear evolved physiologically to become suited to its environment?
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Solution Summary
This in-depth solution explains how polar bear has evolved physiologically to become suited to its environment through protection of cold temperatures, camouflage, locomotion and food. References used are included.
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Polar bears are believed to have evolved from brown bears between 70 - 100,000 years ago. During the world's most recent period of repeated glaciations- Pleistocene period (from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago), brown bears were isolated by the advance of glaciers. This isolation resulted in a series of rapid evolutionary changes in polar bears which has enabled them to adapt to arctic environments. These changes include the development of a number of unique physiological attributes. Polar bear has developed characteristics which are adapted for cold temperatures, for movement across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet
Protection from Cold Temperature:
Polar bears are homoeothermic which means that they have a relatively stable body temperature. They live in the Arctic region where maintaining their body temperature in extreme cold conditions is a challenging task. ...
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