Polar Bears
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/0/7/24073488/8410923.jpg?445)
This endangered species is among one of the most vicious in the food chain, indicating its dominant position at the top of the food chain. These bears primarily feed on seals and live in a freezing environment called the arctic (Defenders of Wildlife, 2013). With temperatures dropping to the low (-30)'s, it is vital for the bears to stay warm and maintain body temperature. This is called maintaining homeostasis, a process we learned about in the first note outlining thermoregulation. In this case, the polar bears generally have the same feedback as humans which is negative. Should a polar bear get too hot under all his fur, he would simply release some of the air in the insulating layer between the skin and internal temperature ( OpenStax College, n.a.) whereas humans sweat to lower body temperature.
This artifact is significant to me because it is the main reason I take an interest in global warming. Should the temperature of the earth become high enough, the ice in the arctic would melt causing the polar bears to enter a state of extinction. This motivates me in life to stay green and recycle because if I don't then I would be partially responsible for the suffering this species is currently experiencing. In addition, this artifact can help me in future studies. If I major in biology and I am presented with an opportunity to focus on an animal and it's unique internal systems, such as the endocrine, I would choose a polar bear. I now know that polar bears maintain homeostasis much like other bears do and bearing this in mind, I maintain an advantage in future assignments regarding animals.
This artifact is significant to me because it is the main reason I take an interest in global warming. Should the temperature of the earth become high enough, the ice in the arctic would melt causing the polar bears to enter a state of extinction. This motivates me in life to stay green and recycle because if I don't then I would be partially responsible for the suffering this species is currently experiencing. In addition, this artifact can help me in future studies. If I major in biology and I am presented with an opportunity to focus on an animal and it's unique internal systems, such as the endocrine, I would choose a polar bear. I now know that polar bears maintain homeostasis much like other bears do and bearing this in mind, I maintain an advantage in future assignments regarding animals.
References
OpenStax College. (n.a.). Concepts of Biology. Retrieved January 5, 2013, from Connexions: http://cnx.org/content/m45534/latest/?collection=col11487/latest
Defenders of Wildlife. (2013). POLAR BEAR. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/polar-bear/basic-facts
Defenders of Wildlife. (2013). POLAR BEAR. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/polar-bear/basic-facts