Importantly, the modules of the LME approach are interdependent and interrelated
For example, the carrying capacity of polar bears is linked to the phytoplankton availability in the
Arctic region through the food web dynamics of species dependent on sea ice for their habitats. The growth of phytoplankton is linked to pollution and ecosystem health. Sea ice changes can be tied directly to ecosystem resilience and the ability of
organisms to withstand and adapt to climate change. Predator-prey dynamics influence socio economic conditions in so far as subsistence hunting is dependent upon the availability of bears, seals,
fish, and other hunted species. With the identification of a Technical Task Team composed of the
expertise of the IUCN/SSC PBSG and other appropriate stakeholders, the TDA and SAP can be well
developed to address WWF’s recent call for a global plan for polar bears.