ADOPTIONS IN POLAR BEAR - ENVIRONMENT
News: Polar
bear fur inspired fibres offer thermal insulation
What's in the news?
● Inspired
by the structure of polar bear fur, researchers found a knittable aerogel fibre
with exceptional thermal and mechanical properties.
Polar Bear:
● The
polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large carnivorous mammal native to the Arctic Circle.
● Polar
bears are listed as vulnerable by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the on going
loss of their sea ice habitat caused by climate change.
● The
reduction in sea ice affects their ability to hunt for seals, which are crucial
for their survival.
Adaptations:
1.
Size and Weight:
● Adults
are about 8ft long and weigh 300-700 kg, larger than the fearsome grizzly bear.
● Fifty
percent of body weight is due to fat and blubber that makes 10 cm thick layer
under their blackish skin.
2.
Fur:
● Polar
bears have a dense layer of fur to keep them warm in the cold Arctic
temperatures.
● Their
fur appears white, providing camouflage against the snow and ice. Underneath
the outer layer of guard hairs,
● There
is a thick undercoat that insulates them from the cold.
3.
Skin Colour:
● Despite
their white fur, the skin underneath is black.
● This
adaptation helps them absorb and retain heat from the sun, which is
particularly important in their cold environment.
4.
Thick Layer of Blubber:
● Beneath
their fur, polar bears have a thick layer of blubber that provides insulation
against the cold and serves as an energy reserve during periods when food is
scarce.
5. Swimmers:
● Polar
bears are strong swimmers and divers which enables them to swim from one
iceberg to another and to hunt seals in sea.
● They
can also swim underneath the ice sheet in search of food.
Other Features:
● Polar
bears do not hibernate in true sense in dens like the brown and black bears do.
Instead they remain active throughout winter in spite of the freezing cold.