What will happen if the polar bear became extinct?

If the polar bear became extinct, what would happen to their prey animals, seals, and the prey animals of the seals?

Predators keep herbivore populations in check without them the populations increase because more young are able to survive.

If the polar bear became extinct, it would have significant impacts on both the Arctic ecosystem and the world at large. Here's how you can analyze the potential consequences of polar bear extinction:

1. Loss of a keystone species: The polar bear is considered a keystone species, meaning it plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of its ecosystem. Polar bears primarily hunt seals, especially ringed seals and bearded seals. If polar bears were to go extinct, the seal population would likely increase drastically, which could disrupt the entire Arctic food chain.

2. Disruption of the Arctic food chain: Polar bears are at the top of the Arctic food chain, so their absence would lead to a cascading effect on other species. The increased seal population would impact fish stocks since seals also feed on fish. This could potentially affect indigenous communities and commercial fishing industries that rely on fish as a food source and economic activity.

3. Impact on marine mammals: Polar bears are also known to scavenge on whale carcasses that wash ashore. With the loss of polar bears, whale carcasses may not be effectively recycled, which could lead to an imbalance in nutrient distribution and affect other marine mammals, seagulls, and scavengers that rely on whale carcasses as a food source.

4. Climate change implications: Polar bears are often referred to as "sentinels" of climate change due to their dependence on sea ice habitats. Their declining population is closely linked to the loss of sea ice, which is shrinking as a result of global warming. If polar bears were to become extinct, it would serve as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address climate change.

By considering the ecological impacts, changes to the food chain, and the wider implications on climate change, you can better understand the potential consequences if polar bears were to become extinct.