Survivor: A fossil has been found that indicates polar bears evolved from brown bears during an ice age
A fossil find suggests that polar bears may only have come into existence during an ice age 150,000 years ago as part of the brown bears' battle for survival against climate change.
Scientists discovered the jawbone of an animal that died up to 130,000 years ago at Poolepynten on the Arctic island of Svalbard. It is oldest polar bear fossil ever found and has given an intriguing insight into the origins of the planet's largest predator.
Professors Olafur Ingolfsson, of the University of Iceland, and Oystein Wiig, of the University of Oslo, who made the discovery believe it reveals polar bears may have survived at least one long period of global warming.
The research paper, as reported in The Sunday Times newspaper, concluded: 'The Poolepynten subfossil mandible, which we argue is from a fully grown male, is probably the oldest polar bear find discovered so far. Its true age is interpreted to be 110,000-130,000 years old.'
Academics have long been divided over the evolution of the the great animal, with some believing they first appeared 50,000 years ago, and others suggesting it was closer to one million years ago.
Anatomical and DNA evidence from the fossil suggests polar bears might have emerged when the brown bear was being forced to adapt to cold and ice an ice age in the northern hemisphere that lasted from 190,000 to 130,000 years ago.
Furthermore, in a paper published by a research group connected to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. said: 'Brown bears found on the Alaskan islands of Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof may be descendants of ancient ursids [bears] that diverged from other lineages of brown bears and subsequently founded the polar bear lineage
Evolution: Brown bears that became trapped on islands during an ice age some 150,000 years ago were forced to adapt
It means polar bears have already survived a global warming that affected the northern hemisphere from 130,000 to 115,000 years ago, when the Greenland ice sheet and the Arctic ice cap were smaller than now.
But Professor Chris Stringer, of the Natural History Museum in London, said: 'Living through a warm period back then does not mean polar bears are resilient to climate change now.'
source: dailymail
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(4606)
-
▼
February
(222)
- Thousands left homeless after Chile quake as death...
- It's the return of skeletal Spice as Victoria Beck...
- Chinese Body Painting
- Forever 21 Haul, OOTD & Ann Taylor
- Affordable Amsterdam: Cheap flights and hotel deal...
- First waves hit Japan and New Zealand after massiv...
- Scientists say polar bears have survived climate c...
- Not so celibate now Peter! Andre admits three-mont...
- Ai Tominaga Magazine Cover for Harper's Bazaar Mal...
- Han Jin Editorial for Nordstrom Catalog, February ...
- GMTV's Kate Garraway's 'home cooking' diet was rea...
- Chelsea 2- Manchester City 4
- Swatch and Review of Mac VIVA GLAM Cyndi Lauper Li...
- Mac Riveting Swatches and Review
- Contest Winner! Congratulations & Thank You to Eve...
- Cartoons of the Week, February 27, 2010 - March 5,...
- Gwen Lu Editorial for Harper's Bazaar Japan, Febru...
- James Corden works out Man United
- How pop became porn
- That's a devilish look to pull off, Lady GaGa
- Guzzling champagne, swigging beer and puffing ciga...
- Ai Tominaga Editorial for Nordstrom Catalog, Janua...
- Wheelchair-user becomes first disabled model to st...
- Wimp...or a man of principle? Cuckold Wayne Bridge...
- Queens of Wonderland: Anne Hathaway and Helena Bon...
- Manchester united 3-0 West Ham.
- The Shoes with the Bow & OOTD's
- Mac Spring Color Forecast Swatches and Review
- Quiz: What's Your Winter Beauty Style?
- Going up in the world? Beat the rush hour with fir...
- Buzzing Bangkok: A busy, dizzy city where charm an...
- Du Juan & Shu Pei Editorial for Vogue China, March...
- Lady Gaga thrills in yet another revealing outfit ...
- Alex Curran shows off her curves in sequinned biki...
- One minute she's doing a Diana, the next she's a L...
- My Hair Through the Years: A Look Back...But Happy...
- Body Painting Female
- Teenager banned from keeping pets for 10 years aft...
- Lakshmi Menon Editorial for Vogue India, October 2010
- Myleene Klass has some last-minute fun in the Barb...
- Will I ever make love again? Four women reveal why...
- Elizabeth Hurley boobs as she has a revealing mome...
- 'I consider myself quite the lady,' declares Lady ...
- POP Beauty Swatches & GIVEAWAY!
- Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Highlighting Brow ...
- I Won & P90X Day 1
- Oldie but Goodie - MAC Marquise D' Lipstick! + Pho...
- Guerlain Cherry Blossom Collection
- Ming Xi Making A Spash at London Fashion Week, Fal...
- Does this spooky image show ghost boy watching bui...
- Du Juan & Liu Wen Magazine Cover for Vogue China, ...
- Back to work for Myleene Klass (lucky for her it's...
- Nars Chihuahua Lip Gloss & Crazed Blush!
- Update!
- Elle Style Awards: Dannii Minogue smuggles her bum...
- Review: Sigma Professional Brushes Eye Kit & Eye S...
- Motivation Mondays: P90X Has Arrived & Clarisonic ...
- Portugal Body Painting
- Sun FeiFei Making A Splash at London Fashion Week
- What IS going on with Angelina Jolie's face? Actre...
- Sonia Dara Editorial for Sports Illustrated 2010
- Budget skiing in Aspen: How to enjoy Colorado's sl...
- Take that power nap - you could end up smarter
- Baftas 2010: British stars Carey Mulligan and Coli...
- Beauty Inspiration: Simply Stunning Cheryl Cole
- Ever wondered what models would look like if they ...
- Contest: Big Hair, Big Lashes- 350 Plus Subscriber...
- Cartoons of the Week February 20-26, 2010
- New York Fashion Week, Fall 2010/Winter 2011: Frid...
- Britain wins first Olympic gold in 30 years as Amy...
- Dolphins could hold the key to curing diabetes (be...
- A very corporate apology. Tearful Tiger Woods says...
- Pretty Glow-y Makeup Inspiration: Natalie Portman ...
- Ireland Body Painting
- Weekly Style News Network Reads
- An armoured Rolls Royce, a flaming piano and a 40f...
- Denise Van Outen proves she's 'not ill, just havin...
- New York Fashion Week, Fall 2010/Winter 2011: Thur...
- Tiger Woods's wife Elin Nordegren shows support fo...
- 'I don't look classy in underwear,' admits new Arm...
- Jonny Evans latest victim to Fergie's "Hairdryer T...
- 'I eat half an apple before bedtime': Kelly Osbour...
- OOTD: Ruffle Sleeves & Leopard Textured Skirt
- Michelle Williams is the cream of the crop as she ...
- New York Fashion Week, Fall 2010/Winter 2011: Tues...
- Shhhhh, we sleeping beauties are trying to get som...
- Now Toyota set to recall best-selling Corollas ove...
- Fashion designers should be free to use size zero ...
- Arsenal Press Conference before Porto match
- Tiger Woods to end his silence over sex scandal as...
- FC Porto 2-1 Arsenal
- How Many Products do You Use Daily? The Number Mig...
- Milan Body Painting
- Not tonight darling - we men have lost our libidos...
- Aspirin could halve risk of women dying from breas...
- New York Fashion Week, Fall 2010/Winter 2011: Tues...
- Brit Awards 2010: Party time for The Saturdays... ...
- 'Irresistibility' gene that makes the fittest's sw...
- Milan 2- 3 Manchester United
- Brit Awards 2010: The show goes on (but the weddin...
-
▼
February
(222)
0 comments:
Post a Comment