A recent study conducted in American waters has revealed that whales, dolphins, and seals are facing significant challenges due to climate change. This groundbreaking assessment, carried out by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has emphasized the threats posed by warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, and diminishing sea ice volumes.
The study examined over 100 stocks of marine mammal species in the United States, and its findings indicate that more than 70% of these stocks are susceptible to various threats resulting from the consequences of warming waters. These threats include habitat loss, food scarcity, decreased dissolved oxygen levels, and alterations in ocean chemistry.
Notably, the research identified large whales, such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales, as particularly vulnerable to climate change. Additionally, toothed whales and dolphins were found to be at high risk as well.
Published in the journal PLOS ONE, this study underscores the urgent need to adapt U.S. management strategies for these marine species in the face of climate change, according to advocates for marine mammals.
Matthew Lettrich, a biologist and the lead author of the study, pointed out that as climate conditions evolve, some marine mammal populations are more susceptible to these changes than others. He stated, “Based on this study, we see a good proportion are highly and very highly vulnerable.”
The study primarily focused on marine mammals inhabiting the western North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. These animals are under the purview of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency responsible for marine resource stewardship and protection.
Researchers assessed the degree of exposure to climate change, sensitivity, and adaptability of these animals. The results indicated that 72% of the stocks were highly or very highly vulnerable to climate change, with nearly half falling into the “very high” vulnerability category.
The warming ocean primarily impacts marine mammals by altering their ability to find food and reducing suitable habitat availability. Additionally, changes in ocean temperature and chemistry can affect sound transmission, potentially disrupting the echolocation used by marine mammals like dolphins for communication and hunting. The study stresses that climate change must be factored into species management strategies.
This NOAA study holds significance as it is the first comprehensive examination of U.S. marine mammals and their resilience to climate change. Regina Asmutis-Silvia, a biologist with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation organization, emphasized that the data from this study could be instrumental in enacting protective laws for these creatures, provided there is political will to do so.
The impacts of climate change on whales worldwide have gained increased attention in recent years. Many studies have previously focused on single species or narrower geographical areas, but the broader approach of this study is considered beneficial because the effects of climate change on these massive animals have global implications.
Laura Ganley, a research scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, noted that climate change affects various species, not just North Atlantic right whales or bottlenose dolphins. The study underscores that this issue extends to most marine mammal stocks in the United States, not limited to the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Maine.
Furthermore, climate change could influence the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, including their migration patterns. This may necessitate increased international cooperation as some species, such as the gray seal, migrate across boundaries.
In recent years, the federal government has implemented various measures to protect declining whale species, including restrictions on commercial fishing and vessel speed. These measures aim to address threats like entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships, both of which are exacerbated by warming waters.
Gib Brogan, campaign manager with the environmental group Oceana, emphasized that safeguarding whales in the era of climate change requires ocean managers to anticipate a future where whale habitats may become less suitable due to warming waters. He believes that this study can guide managers in prioritizing vulnerable species and taking necessary steps to conserve marine life, highlighting the importance of accounting for current and future changes in the ocean to preserve biodiversity, including marine mammals.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Zoomer Zest journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
