How Global Climate Change Effects the Survival of Polar Bear Abundance in the Arctic - Research Proposal Example

 1.1. Literature Review five relevant peer-reviewed primary research journal articles Climate change is one of major global problems in the 21st century. It is also reffered to as global warming. Climate change is defined as the continuous increase in average temperatures of the earth’s atmosphere, landmasses and ocean bodies. It has resulted from human activities that are unfriendly to the environment such as extreme pollution among others. It has been associated with numerous detrimental effects that are being experienced all over the world which ranges from mushrooming of new and fatal human diseases like cancer, poor performance of crops, extinction or population decrease of some animal species with those animals leaving in the water bodies and cold regions being hit the most. Polar bear is one of the animal species that have been significantly negatively affected by the effects of climate change hence calling for a quicker human intervention in order to eliminate the problem, or else the future generations will not get an opportunity to see these animals. This research proposal will focus on the effects of climate change on the abundance of polar bears in the artic. Polar bear is a carnivore that is mostly found in the Arctic Circle inclusive of the Arctic Ocean and the nearby by seas and landmasses. It is a huge animal that that is almost the same size with omnivorous Kodiak bear. In average, a male adult referred to as boar weighs around 350 to 700kg with the females weighing the average half weight of the male. Polar bear is a sister species of brown bear, which has also special features in order to adapt it survive in cold regions. The animal is adapted to surviving in cold regions from walking on snow surfaces, on ice to extremely cold ocean waters among others. It also has special features that enable it to hunt easily with its favorite prey being seal. Most polar bears live in or spend much of their time in seas despite the fact that they are born on sea. Various researches have been conducted in the past relating to effects of climate change on the population of polar bear in the Arctic Circle. Most of those researches have shown that polar bear if one of the animal species that is greatly affected by effects of global warming or what is commonly referred to as climate change. Scientists and scholars have come up with various sorts of argument concerning this issue but they seem to agree on some certain factors. Some of the most basic factors that are being used as the base for argument is the lifestyle of polar bears. As mentioned above, these animals live in seashores most of the time in snowed areas and their basic meal is seals, which also live in those cold regions. However, one of the effects of climate change is the fact that rise in temperatures is making sea ice to decrease at a rampant rate, a factor that is not only threatening the habitation of these amazing creatures, but also their prey are at risk. This means that polar bears are running short of food as seals are depleted due to melting of artic sea ice. Other conditions that are affecting the wellbeing of the animals is the fact that the animals are adapted to livings in extremely cold temperatures hence increase in temperature is a threat to their survival. Moreover, other studies have shown that increase in cannibalism, increase in drowning rates of the animal and lack of access to denning areas have contributed a lot towards the decrease of this species. However, this area needs further research in order to establish other possible threats to the animal that are arising from climate change and make appropriate recommendations that can solve this problem. 1.2 Scope of the study This research study will focus on the effects of climate change on the population of polar bears in the Arctic Circle and the neighboring areas both on the landmasses and in the water bodies. 1.3 Research Hypothesis The main hypothesis of this research study are 1. There exist a relationship between the decrease in population of polar bears and the effects of climate change. 2. There are possible human interventions or strategies that can be adopted in order to save polar bears. 3. The cost of engaging measures meant to control the decrease in population of polar bears is likely to be relatively high. 1.4 Research Questions The following are the main questions that the research study will aim to answer. 1. What is the relationship between the decrease in population of polar bears and the effects of climate change? 2. What are the possible strategies or human interventions that can be adopted in order to save the wellbeing of the animal? 3. What could be the rough cost of applying the recommended strategies and is it a prudent idea? 1.5 Predictions prediction(s) that follow from this hypothesis if the hypothesis is supported. The hypothesis should contain mechanisms or processes that lead to the prediction(s). Be direct in your wording. 3. Methodology 3.1 Introduction This chapter of a research proposal explains the research methodology that the researcher will apply by while give adequate support for his or her choice to use the stated methodology. Methodology shows the research design that the researcher will use, his or method of data collection, research instruments that will be applied as well as the analyzing method the researcher will use in analyzing the obtained data. 3.2 Research Design Research design is the part of the research proposal that explains what the research will do, in what manner and give reasons to why he or she will use the mentioned research designs. This enables the researcher to a set a clear plan on how the data can be collected and analyzed easily and effectively. This research study will be conducted through both qualitative and quantitative research methods specifically using descriptive survey design. Quantitative approaches will be used to test the hypothesis set by the researcher. This method involves use of data collection instruments such as questionnaires, interviews among others. The researcher will choose a sample at random who in this case will be the area residents who have long history living with the animals, experts in such fields like wildlife rangers or departments among other related sources. The respondents will be chosen either in a systematic or in a stratified way so that the data collected can be used as a general conclusion for the whole research problem. The main advantage of using qualitative research method is the fact that the methods of data collection used and data analysis are relatively cheap and provide reliable and quantifiable data that can be used as a general conclusion for the whole research problem. The researcher also gets a chance to interact with the respondents hence giving him a better chance to verify the information given. Application of this hybrid research methodology system (qualitative and quantities) is the fact that the information obtained will be rich and well detailed. It also takes less time thus saving the researchers time and financial resources while still providing quality information. Main disadvantage of the methodology is the fact that data collection and analysis may be tiresome and may take relatively more time especially if the researcher is not experienced in this methods or computer packages. 3.3 Sampling Techniques The researcher will use a random selection procedures in order to ensure that the data collected is representative. In this case, the researcher will use stratified random sampling in order to give all the subgroups equivalent possibility. 3.4 Methods of data collection a) Questionnaire The researcher is going to distribute questionnaire forms containing sets of questions that are related to polar bear. Such questions will be disbursed to wildlife rangers, the nearby. The set questions will be open type meaning that respondents will not be restricted by choices. b) Personal Interview This will involve a live interview or interview through the phone or other modes of communication such as Skype. The researcher will interview the relevant key players as mentioned there above (under questionnaire). c) Observation The researcher will also use this method to collect data such as the visible effects of climate change, the behavioral change, or respondent of polar bears to the climate change among other data than can be collected through observation. d) Secondary methods of data collection The researcher will use secondary methods of data collection such as researching in the internet, reading written books related to this field, newspapers, reading journals relating to climate change and polar bears as well as going through previous studies on the issue of effects of climate change to population of polar bears. All the data will be collected from reliable and credible sources in order to ensure that it has met the needed set standards. Collection of data will take place in the field preferably during winter and summer in order to have reliable data. 4. Data analysis After the collection of the data, the data collected will then be edited in order to ensure that it is accurate, check its consistency and completeness and then code and cross it then tabulated it to enable the responses to be statistically analyzed. The researcher will use descriptive statistics in order to identify and describe the variation in population of bears with respect to climate change. Such data (bear population) will be analyzed using percentages, standard deviation and weighted mean. All analysis will be done using Microsoft excel. Expected Results and Significance- approximately 250 words (10 marks): What results should you expect to find as an outcome of this study? The anticipated results should be supported by atleast one figure, and you should site your figure(s) in your results paragraph. Finish your research proposal with a compelling argument for the significance of the research, ie. consider how results will fill the gaps you identified in the introduction and how the results might be used by yourself and others. Figure of Expected Results (5 marks):  Include atleast one figure of hypothetical data to show what you expect to find. Be sure that the hypothetical data are valid, the appropriate type of figures are used, the axes are labelled correctly with units, and a complete and accurate and correctly formatted figure title is provided. These figure should be on a SEPARATE page at the END of the proposal. CREATE THIS HYPOTHETICAL FIGURE ON EXCEL. In-text citations: Use properly formatted in-text citations to acknowledge the sources used, in the style of the journal Ecology. Sources MUST BE AT LEAST Provided Rough Work: Research Question: How does global climate change have an influence on polar bear abundance?  Prediction: If temperature increase via global warming causes an increase in intraspecific competition- ie. food resources- then we would see a decrease in polar bear abundance  Hypothesis: The reduction of polar bear survival in the Arctic is because of the increase of climatic temperatures and how it reduces food resources  Approach: Manipulative Experiment  Location: Arctic Regions (field experiment)  Experimental Unit: - 2km x 2km plots in Arctic region which there is a high addition of food  - 2km x 2km plots in Arctic region which there is a medium addition of food  - 2km x 2km plots in Arctic region which no food is added  Treatments:  - Food addition  ----> the addition of baby seals in a specified region - no food addition Control: - 2km x 2km plot in Arctic which no food is added (low amounts of food present in normal polar bear diet due to increase of temperature is compared to the increase food amounts ) Randomization: randomly assigning food to plots in arctic regions  Replication:  Conduct the addition or no addition of food (treatments) on experimental units 5 times to each plot with treatments applied  ex: studying high amounts of food addition on polar bears in randomized regions in arctic, medium amounts and no food, each about 10 times.  Also, 10 times might have a low feasibility. This is because the feasibility of monitoring polar bear abundance with gradual temperature increases and food additions in such large plots over time interval may be diffidult to do when we are tracking the population growth or decline.  Response Variable: The abundance of polar bears in those specific plots in arctic which treatments have been applied to Bibliography Calabrese, R. L. 2009. The dissertation desk reference: The doctoral student's manual to writing the dissertation. Rowman & Littlefield Education. Lanham, Md. Glatthorn, A. A., Joyner, R. L., & Glatthorn, A. A. (2005). Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: A step-by-step guide. Corwin Press. Thousand Oaks. 5 PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES RELEVENT TO SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTION  Read More