Comments on: Warming’s new hybrid — the Grolar bear or Pizzly http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:14:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: hapa http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12474 hapa Sun, 11 May 2008 16:51:53 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12474 when i "researched" human skin color last year i learned a fun relevant thing about genetic traits -- some are harder to gain than others -- based on environmental pressure. medium to dark brown is where we started, "they" said, and super white and super black were both responses to extreme sunlight differences on equatorial savanna and in the cloudy north. the difference is that white skin represents a weakened genetic trait and black skin an intensification. the point being if bears have to all go much darker to survive, or we do, that's much tougher than bleached cousins having kids with "normal" as part of finding a new comfort zone in the typical range of species. as a teacher of mine likes to quote, "skin color is a geographic mirage." when i “researched” human skin color last year i learned a fun relevant thing about genetic traits — some are harder to gain than others — based on environmental pressure. medium to dark brown is where we started, “they” said, and super white and super black were both responses to extreme sunlight differences on equatorial savanna and in the cloudy north. the difference is that white skin represents a weakened genetic trait and black skin an intensification.

the point being if bears have to all go much darker to survive, or we do, that’s much tougher than bleached cousins having kids with “normal” as part of finding a new comfort zone in the typical range of species. as a teacher of mine likes to quote, “skin color is a geographic mirage.”

]]> By: Reader http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12497 Reader Mon, 12 May 2008 04:36:23 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12497 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/polar-bears.html Why go to India for your news, Joe? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/polar-bears.html

Why go to India for your news, Joe?

]]> By: Paul K http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12498 Paul K Mon, 12 May 2008 05:13:45 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12498 It's really sad that climateprogress has been reduced to misrepresenting two year old stories to further the campaign of fear. Key quote from the original National Geographic article: "The hybrid, he said, is definitely not a sign of climate change." It’s really sad that climateprogress has been reduced to misrepresenting two year old stories to further the campaign of fear. Key quote from the original National Geographic article: “The hybrid, he said, is definitely not a sign of climate change.”

]]> By: Nylo http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12506 Nylo Mon, 12 May 2008 14:49:00 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12506 hapa, A white skin in human race may be a weakening of a characteristic which is no longer needed - sun protection in the north. But the white fur of polar bears is definitely not a weakening of anything. It's a succesfuly reached new characteristic that blends them with their surroundings better than a dark fur. hapa,

A white skin in human race may be a weakening of a characteristic which is no longer needed - sun protection in the north. But the white fur of polar bears is definitely not a weakening of anything. It’s a succesfuly reached new characteristic that blends them with their surroundings better than a dark fur.

]]> By: Reader http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12516 Reader Mon, 12 May 2008 20:43:43 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12516 Paul, It's sad, I suppose, but says something profound about the state of the 'war', does it not? Don't forget that Joe is a well-paid alarmist. Paul,

It’s sad, I suppose, but says something profound about the state of the ‘war’, does it not?

Don’t forget that Joe is a well-paid alarmist.

]]> By: Pahbs http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12549 Pahbs Tue, 13 May 2008 13:40:35 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12549 Well fellaz - Before we resort to name-calling, lets read the entire article. After Paetkau says that the hybrid he found is not a sign of climate change, you need to read the "Lingering Questions" section right at the end of the article: ---------- "Paetkau adds that the hybrid bear raises several questions........ ....On the other hand, the warming Arctic environment is causing some animals to shift their range northward. It's possible, Paetkau says, that grizzly bears and polar bears may have more offspring-producing encounters in the future. "With one sample, we have no way of distinguishing between the possibilities," he said. "But it does make you sit up straight and want to keep track of that situation and get a sense over the next decade whether this will be a regular occurrence or whether it's a one-off." -------- See, we all like to snatch facts out of context to provide some sort of "gotcha" punchline. This is not objective nor productive. In this case, one instance of a species hybrid can't be a determinant for or against something as global as climate change. The questions is, does it represent an anomaly or does it represent a new pattern? Given the context of changing global environmental patterns, it is worth investigating. Just be objective. Well fellaz - Before we resort to name-calling, lets read the entire article. After Paetkau says that the hybrid he found is not a sign of climate change, you need to read the “Lingering Questions” section right at the end of the article:
———-
“Paetkau adds that the hybrid bear raises several questions……..

….On the other hand, the warming Arctic environment is causing some animals to shift their range northward. It’s possible, Paetkau says, that grizzly bears and polar bears may have more offspring-producing encounters in the future.

“With one sample, we have no way of distinguishing between the possibilities,” he said.

“But it does make you sit up straight and want to keep track of that situation and get a sense over the next decade whether this will be a regular occurrence or whether it’s a one-off.”
——–
See, we all like to snatch facts out of context to provide some sort of “gotcha” punchline. This is not objective nor productive. In this case, one instance of a species hybrid can’t be a determinant for or against something as global as climate change. The questions is, does it represent an anomaly or does it represent a new pattern? Given the context of changing global environmental patterns, it is worth investigating.

Just be objective.

]]> By: Paul K http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12560 Paul K Tue, 13 May 2008 15:03:53 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12560 Pahbs, "does it represent an anomaly or does it represent a new pattern?" One hybrid was found three years ago. None since. Trend? Pahbs,
“does it represent an anomaly or does it represent a new pattern?” One hybrid was found three years ago. None since. Trend?

]]> By: Pahbs http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12562 Pahbs Tue, 13 May 2008 15:14:23 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-12562 Paul K - Yeah, good point. Only one incident and not to be used to conclude or really suggest anything at all. But I do think the hypothesis of expanding geographic ranges and increased likelihood of interacting is plausible and worth investigating. It really is mind-boggling to think about the potential change of species interactions with such rapid changes in environmental conditions. It is a very interesting time to be scientifically alert, especially with the abundance of satellite data available. Paul K - Yeah, good point. Only one incident and not to be used to conclude or really suggest anything at all. But I do think the hypothesis of expanding geographic ranges and increased likelihood of interacting is plausible and worth investigating. It really is mind-boggling to think about the potential change of species interactions with such rapid changes in environmental conditions. It is a very interesting time to be scientifically alert, especially with the abundance of satellite data available.

]]> By: Anonymous http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-14901 Anonymous Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:16:07 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/05/10/warmings-new-hybrid-the-grolar-bear-or-pizzly/#comment-14901 this bear is so cute this bear is so cute

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