Polar Bear Seaweed Study

The gut microbiome of polar bears serves as an indicator of the health and nutritional status of this sentinel species, particularly in the context of climate change-induced prolonged ice-free seasons. This project aims to investigate the fecal microbiome of habitat-housed captive polar bears consuming a high-protein diet and compare it with that of the wild population. Additionally, the study evaluates the effects of incorporating a brown seaweed (Fucus spiralis), a part of the natural diet of wild polar bears, on the fecal microbiome of captive polar bears.