The Main Cause Of Concern That Sparked The Idea Of Bearded Seal Protection, Is That Steady Climate Change Will Drastically Modify The Sea Ice They Thrive On. Also Changing The Ocean Temperature And Acidity Level, Affecting The Ecology Of The Bearded Seals Environment. This Would Severely Alter The Amount Of prey In The Area And Local Ecosystem. Ice Patches Serve A Major Importance In The Raising of Seal Pups. Another Affect Of This Would Be That The Seals Would Have o make An Attempt To Live And Thrive In An Environment Or Location They Are Not As Well Adapted To, The Result Could Possibly End In Population Loss and The Pups Would Likely Have A Low Survival Rate.
Ocean acidification
The affects of ocean acidification are complex but it is more than likely to have an extremely negative affect on the species and ecosystem as whole. A lack of prey in the area would cause the seals to have to travel farther out of there habitat and into possibly more dangerous areas. the melting of sea ice from ocean warming will force them into new and unfamiliar environments as well, leading to a higher death rate.
The affects of ocean acidification are complex but it is more than likely to have an extremely negative affect on the species and ecosystem as whole. A lack of prey in the area would cause the seals to have to travel farther out of there habitat and into possibly more dangerous areas. the melting of sea ice from ocean warming will force them into new and unfamiliar environments as well, leading to a higher death rate.
Human interaction
Since the bearded seal is a mostly solitary animal they do not have a commercial value. Commercial slaughtering is a problem faced by many other species of seals. Although they may not be hunted for resources they are affected by human activities. Water contamination, oil spills, oil and gas industry activities. " future changes and impacts from these other factors were judged by the BRT as likely to be more localized and less significant."
Since the bearded seal is a mostly solitary animal they do not have a commercial value. Commercial slaughtering is a problem faced by many other species of seals. Although they may not be hunted for resources they are affected by human activities. Water contamination, oil spills, oil and gas industry activities. " future changes and impacts from these other factors were judged by the BRT as likely to be more localized and less significant."