Pizzly or Grolar: Speciation in Action

What are 'pizzly' bears a hybrid of?

• Polar bears and black bears

• Polar bears and panda bears

• Grizzly bears and black bears

• Polar bears and grizzly bears

Why are polar bears breeding with grizzly bears?

• Because of a decrease in the polar bear population

• Because humans are introducing them to each other

• Due to climate change and habitat overlap

• To increase the genetic diversity of polar bears

What is a niche in an ecosystem?

• A type of habitat within an ecosystem

• The role of an organism, including its needs and relationships

• The top predator in an ecosystem

• A rare species in an ecosystem

What advantage might 'pizzly' bears have over their parent species?

• Faster running speed

• Better swimming ability

• Ability to forage for a broader range of food sources

• Longer hibernation periods

How long ago did grizzly bears and polar bears diverge?

• 100,000 to 200,000 years ago

• 500,000 to 600,000 years ago

• 1 million to 2 million years ago

• 700,000 to 800,000 years ago

When was the first wild hybrid of a polar bear and a grizzly bear documented?

• 2000

• 2010

• 1996

• 2006

What feature is NOT mentioned as a characteristic of the hybrid bears?

• Humped back

• Long claws

• Cream-white fur

• Ability to fly

What is causing the decline in polar bear numbers?

• Climate change and competition for food

• Diseases

• Lack of mating opportunities

• Increased hunting

What type of animals are considered the best survivors of rapid environmental change?

• Aquatic animals

• Nocturnal animals

• Generalist animals

• Highly specialized apex predators

What is a possible biomechanical advantage of the 'pizzly' bear?

• Intermediate skull size

• Thicker fur

• Smaller body size

• Larger paw size