Understanding the Arctic Fox

Paper Summary:

Peripheral to the concern and implications of the melting arctic regions is the concern about the wildlife supported by the region. The author of the paper focuses his study on the arctic fox. The writer attempts to build an understanding and image of this creature about which very little attention has been given in discussions on environmental concerns. This paper examines the role of the arctic fox in the environmental balance of the arctic region; because in the harsh environment of the arctic where it becomes very easy to forget about global warming and endangered habitats in sub zero temperatures, every life form, including the arctic fox, is but a component in the balance of nature and life in the region.

From the Paper:

"Concerns about the lemming population as a vanishing food source upon which the arctic fox relies is probably less of an issue than what the access to the region will mean to the arctic fox as a species. With the changing weather, it can be expected that mankind will expand his own habitat into regions previously unpopulated in the arctic. A region where the harsh weather itself, the frozen tundra, the snow, are the roaming grounds of the arctic fox, it can be expected that we might see a decline in the numbers of artic fox as a result of man's presence over the environmental changes. The artic fox, described as a "hardy" animal, is no doubt, like foxes in other regions, able to sustain itself as a small predator and as a scavenger of bigger animals; but it probably cannot stave off the harm it faces by the presence of mankind in its environment."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "The Fox in World Literature: Reflections on a "Fictional Animal"." Asian Folklore Studies 65.2 (2006): 133+. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5018927838>.
• National Geographic, 2008, found on-line at http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/mammals-animals/dogs-wolves-and-foxes/fox_arctic.html?fs=animals-panther.nationalgeographic.com, retrieved 8 February, 2008.
• Sims, Grant. "Paradox of the Arctic Fox." National Wildlife Feb.-Mar. 1996: 16+. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000329203>.
• Smith, Duane. "Climate Change in the Arctic: An Inuit Reality." UN Chronicle June 2007: 40+. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5023350092>.
• Walker, Tom. "The Shadow Knows - in Alaska's Far North, the Arctic Fox Shares Its Secrets of Survival." National Wildlife Feb.-Mar. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000796143>.

More papers on Understanding the Arctic Fox:

• Analytical Essay # 49460 : "The False Fox: A Preaching Beast"
• Analytical Essay # 107431 : "The Swamp Fox"
• Essay # 39906 : "The Swamp Fox"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: