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~The Spirit Bear~
THE GENETICS
The Kermode bear, or Ursus Americanus Kermodei, is the scientifically recognized name of all bears - black and white - that make up this rare subspecies found only on Canada’s west coast. But it is the white Kermode or spirit bear, as it is perhaps better known, which has brought attention to the subspecies and prompted questions about both its origin and its future
So where did the white bear originate - and why? Well, no one knows for sure, but there are some interesting theories that have emerged. Some scientists believe that the Kermode subspecies may be the product of a separate strain of coastal black bears, cut off from inland populations for thousands of years.
Most scientists do agree that the spirit bear is the result of a recessive gene that is produced in one out of every ten black bears - just as the legend states. What this means is that two bears, each carrying that special gene, will produce a white cub. The yellowish tinge, apparent on many of the white individuals, is speculated to be related to their diet of salmon, which makes up a large portion of the bear’s diet.
3nodding heart Genetically Unique heart 3nodding
The only genetic study into the origin of the gene that produces the white Kermode bear was commissioned by Western Forest Products and partly funded by Forest Renewal BC. The study, led by University of British Columbia geneticist Kermit Ritland, investigated the origin of the gene to assess the threat to the bear and to discover whether logging would have a negative impact on their gene pool. By collecting and analyzing hair from the Kermode, Ritland was able to determine that a "change in a single base pair of a recessive gene" stops the production of the pigments that make the bear’s black and in turn produces a cream white cub. This variant has never been found in any other mammal, proving that indeed the spirit bear is genetically unique.
What Do these Bears Mean??
Scientists have determined that all bears on the central coast - both Grizzlies and Kermode bears (black and white) - play a vital role in the nutrient cycle, the process that sustains the temperate rainforest ecosystem in which they live. When the bears catch the salmon, they deposit the salmon carcasses on the forest floor that, when decomposing, allows the salmon’s nutrients to seep into the soil surrounding the forest’s old growth trees. It is these nutrients from the salmon that help the trees grow to the size that they are and sustain the entire wilderness. And the spirit bear plays an even larger role in sustaining this cycle - because of its colour, it is able to blend in with the rapids of streams and catch salmon more easily. The more salmon these bears catch means more salmon carcasses sustaining the forest. And, of course, the temperate rainforest has more biomass or life per square inch than the tropical rainforest in Brazi
It also acts as one of the largest land carbon sinks in the world - taking in our carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The spirit bear, as a result of its unique features and its role in the nutrient cycle, sustains a part of our world that sustains humans around the world - it is a global treasure with a global impact.
To the Natives!
With Your Help The Legend can Live On..
The Legend of the Moksgm’ol - the Spirit Bear
Long ago, when the earth was covered in ice, Raven - the creator - decided to change the earth to a beautiful green land. But as a reminder of when the world was pure and clean, covered with snow and ice, Raven went among the black bear people and turned every tenth bear white.
Raven promised that these unique bears would have unique powers: they would lead special people to special places and have the ability to dive deep in the ocean in search of fish.
Raven then set aside a rainforest home for the bears where he decreed that they would live forever in peace and harmony.
Logging!
While there are no environmental absolutes, no one has yet been able to say, with confidence, that logging this one ecosystem will not harm these bears or the gene that produces this unique subspecies. And what’s more, many scientists - even some hired by industry - have raised red flags, cautioning that logging, even in this one area, could very well cost us our last chance to safeguard the spirit bear. You see, this wilderness ecosystem creates a large buffer of intact mainland watersheds that ensure black bears that do not carry the white gene do not mix with the island populations that do. Loosing this buffer - even just a part of it - would create a porus opening, allowing displaced bears to swamp and harm the last true intact population of Kermode bears. The pristine wilderness, together with a large sustainable gene pool, has made the Land of the Spirit Bear the cornerstone for the future of the spirit bear.
THE GENETICS
The Kermode bear, or Ursus Americanus Kermodei, is the scientifically recognized name of all bears - black and white - that make up this rare subspecies found only on Canada’s west coast. But it is the white Kermode or spirit bear, as it is perhaps better known, which has brought attention to the subspecies and prompted questions about both its origin and its future
So where did the white bear originate - and why? Well, no one knows for sure, but there are some interesting theories that have emerged. Some scientists believe that the Kermode subspecies may be the product of a separate strain of coastal black bears, cut off from inland populations for thousands of years.
Most scientists do agree that the spirit bear is the result of a recessive gene that is produced in one out of every ten black bears - just as the legend states. What this means is that two bears, each carrying that special gene, will produce a white cub. The yellowish tinge, apparent on many of the white individuals, is speculated to be related to their diet of salmon, which makes up a large portion of the bear’s diet.
3nodding heart Genetically Unique heart 3nodding
The only genetic study into the origin of the gene that produces the white Kermode bear was commissioned by Western Forest Products and partly funded by Forest Renewal BC. The study, led by University of British Columbia geneticist Kermit Ritland, investigated the origin of the gene to assess the threat to the bear and to discover whether logging would have a negative impact on their gene pool. By collecting and analyzing hair from the Kermode, Ritland was able to determine that a "change in a single base pair of a recessive gene" stops the production of the pigments that make the bear’s black and in turn produces a cream white cub. This variant has never been found in any other mammal, proving that indeed the spirit bear is genetically unique.
What Do these Bears Mean??
Scientists have determined that all bears on the central coast - both Grizzlies and Kermode bears (black and white) - play a vital role in the nutrient cycle, the process that sustains the temperate rainforest ecosystem in which they live. When the bears catch the salmon, they deposit the salmon carcasses on the forest floor that, when decomposing, allows the salmon’s nutrients to seep into the soil surrounding the forest’s old growth trees. It is these nutrients from the salmon that help the trees grow to the size that they are and sustain the entire wilderness. And the spirit bear plays an even larger role in sustaining this cycle - because of its colour, it is able to blend in with the rapids of streams and catch salmon more easily. The more salmon these bears catch means more salmon carcasses sustaining the forest. And, of course, the temperate rainforest has more biomass or life per square inch than the tropical rainforest in Brazi
It also acts as one of the largest land carbon sinks in the world - taking in our carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The spirit bear, as a result of its unique features and its role in the nutrient cycle, sustains a part of our world that sustains humans around the world - it is a global treasure with a global impact.
To the Natives!
With Your Help The Legend can Live On..
The Legend of the Moksgm’ol - the Spirit Bear
Long ago, when the earth was covered in ice, Raven - the creator - decided to change the earth to a beautiful green land. But as a reminder of when the world was pure and clean, covered with snow and ice, Raven went among the black bear people and turned every tenth bear white.
Raven promised that these unique bears would have unique powers: they would lead special people to special places and have the ability to dive deep in the ocean in search of fish.
Raven then set aside a rainforest home for the bears where he decreed that they would live forever in peace and harmony.
Logging!
While there are no environmental absolutes, no one has yet been able to say, with confidence, that logging this one ecosystem will not harm these bears or the gene that produces this unique subspecies. And what’s more, many scientists - even some hired by industry - have raised red flags, cautioning that logging, even in this one area, could very well cost us our last chance to safeguard the spirit bear. You see, this wilderness ecosystem creates a large buffer of intact mainland watersheds that ensure black bears that do not carry the white gene do not mix with the island populations that do. Loosing this buffer - even just a part of it - would create a porus opening, allowing displaced bears to swamp and harm the last true intact population of Kermode bears. The pristine wilderness, together with a large sustainable gene pool, has made the Land of the Spirit Bear the cornerstone for the future of the spirit bear.
The Rainforest! Not Just a Home to the Spirit Bear
The Land of the Spirit Bear harbors the largest and most intact population of Kermode bears - both white and black - which is critical to the rare bear’s genetic viability. The area also supports populations of grizzly bears, genetically unique coastal grey wolves, Sitka deer, bald eagles, highly endangered marbled murrelets, orca whales, over 60 salmon spawning streams with five different species of salmon, and countless other terrestrial, marine, and bird life. You speak as though they have no chance! And they do! Logging starts in the spring time, giving us a chance to do somthing to speak out! It's not just about saving the bears it's about saving this rain forest! I mean many forests have been logged away, but in this case it determans extinction for these bears. I don't thinks it's fair the bears have to be moved and I 100% disagree with that suggestion!
The Land of the Spirit Bear harbors the largest and most intact population of Kermode bears - both white and black - which is critical to the rare bear’s genetic viability. The area also supports populations of grizzly bears, genetically unique coastal grey wolves, Sitka deer, bald eagles, highly endangered marbled murrelets, orca whales, over 60 salmon spawning streams with five different species of salmon, and countless other terrestrial, marine, and bird life. You speak as though they have no chance! And they do! Logging starts in the spring time, giving us a chance to do somthing to speak out! It's not just about saving the bears it's about saving this rain forest! I mean many forests have been logged away, but in this case it determans extinction for these bears. I don't thinks it's fair the bears have to be moved and I 100% disagree with that suggestion!
