The majestic humpback whales of the North Pacific are facing an unexpected decline, with numbers plummeting by 20 percent in less than a decade. A recent study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science suggests that marine heat waves may be the primary culprit behind this alarming trend. After the end of commercial whaling in 1976 and decades of dedicated conservation efforts, humpback whale populations in the region were on a steady rise until 2012. It was widely anticipated that their numbers would eventually stabilize at a natural “carrying capacity,” the maximum population size that the ocean ecosystem can sustain. However, researchers have observed a sharp decline in whale numbers over the past decade. A team of 75 scientists conducted an extensive study by compiling the largest photo-identification dataset ever created for a large marine mammal. By analyzing images of the whales’ unique tail flukes, they logged approximately 200,000 sightings of over 33,000 individual humpback whales between 2002 and 2021. The study highlights the significant impact of marine heat waves on marine ecosystems. Elevated ocean temperatures can disrupt food chains, alter migration patterns, and affect the whales’ primary food sources, such as krill and small fish. The decline in food availability due to warmer waters may be contributing to the reduced humpback whale populations. This decline poses a concern not only for conservationists but also for the broader ecological balance of the North Pacific. Humpback whales play a crucial role in the marine environment, and their decrease could have cascading effects on the ecosystem. The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing climate change and its impact on marine life. Continued research and international cooperation are essential to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of rising ocean temperatures on these iconic creatures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
