A recent study has uncovered a concerning trend: Pacific coast grey whales have decreased in size by 13% since the year 2000. This significant reduction highlights the profound impact of climate change and human activities on marine life.
Researchers from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and Oregon State University in the United States examined around 200 whales from the Eastern North Pacific population, which consists of approximately 14,500 individuals. By analyzing drone images captured between 2016 and 2022, the team focused on 130 whales with known or estimated ages.
The findings are striking. A grey whale born in 2020 is projected to reach full adulthood at roughly 1.65 meters shorter than those born in 2000. To put this into perspective, it's akin to the average height of an American woman dropping from 162 centimeters to 142 centimeters over two decades.
This size reduction is not just a number. It has real-world implications for the survival rates and reproductive success of these majestic marine mammals. Published in the journal Global Change Biology, the study also links this trend to alterations in oceanic "upwelling" and "relaxation" cycles, further emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate factors and marine ecosystems.
As climate patterns continue to shift, the future of Pacific grey whales hangs in the balance, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable practices and effective conservation efforts to protect these vital marine inhabitants.
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Pacific coast grey whales shrinking in size as climate changes
cgtn.com
