Climate Change and the Dwindling Survival of Marine Mammals Term Paper

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Climate Change on Marine Mammals

Sustained scientific observations reveal and alert everyone that climate change has asserted alarming effects on the oceans (Simmonds & Isaac 2007). Scientists agree that these effects are likely to be in the form of alterations in prey distribution and volume. They also agree that the more mobile species of marine mammals may possess enough resilience to adapt to the changes. But the extent of their adaptability remains a question. This question arose from recent observations that many species of these mammals may be vulnerable to climate changes. Vulnerability may be in the form of limited range of habitat, such as specific species, which can survive only in icy environments. Mammals that are forced to migrate to polar regions in search of feeding grounds have also become a subject of serious concern. These are only the major impacts of climate change on these mammals, which call for urgent action and concrete precautionary measures by marine mammal experts (Simmonds & Isaac).

Impacts

These changes are becoming more and more visible and raising apprehension levels in the ecology sector (Reynolds et al. n.d., Burek et al. 2008, GBRMPA 2015). These changes include shifting icy rctic food webs and productivity to open-ocean, a decline in the volume of Arctic cod, the rise of new or unusual diseases, and these mammals increased exposure to the damaging effects of shipping, contamination, noise pollution, oil and gas exploration and coastal and urban development (Reynolds et al., Burek et al., GBRMPA).

Changes in climate have led to changes in sea ice distribution, its extent and timing (Burket et al. 201, Evans et al., 2010). These, in turn, have created in ice seal distribution, in turn modifying polar bear foraging, which adversely affects their health, overall body condition and reproductive conditions. The ultimate extent is higher death rate among them. If the condition is unsolved, the population of polar bears may vanish at least in some parts of the Arctic region in the future. To get a good grasp, scientists say that climate change has created unprecedented changes in overall ecological conditions (Reynolds et al. n.d., WWF-Australia n.d. Burek et al. 2008). They emphasize that marine mammals of all specifies are naturally vulnerable to changes in their natural environment. These changes and effects have been known to and documented by scientists. They are unanimous in the apprehension that climate change may reduce the population or species of marine mammals. Other effects not yet observed may be greater at lease in some species of these mammals (Reynolds et al., WWF-Australia, Burek et al.).

Seven species have been selected for an evolutionary study to determine and measure the effects of climate change (Moore & Huntington 2008). These are three cetacean, three pinniped and the polar bear. All seven Arctic species thrive on seasonal extremes and the variability of the sea. Recent changes in climate, however, put to test their adaptive capability. The impact of climate change centers on ice as their platform, the foundation of their ecosystem, and their natural barrier or separator from man's eommercial activities. These impacts differ according to their species. There are those that rely on ice platforms, sea ice-dominated ecosystems, and seasonal migrant species to which sea ice serves as a barrier (Moore & Huntington).

The resilience of many of these species of mammals has been more than merely speculative (Moore & Huntington 2008). That resilience was studied and tested on three species in four regions as basis for projections on sea ice reduction by 2050. Findings suggest that some of these species are likely to survive in the four subject regions where they take refuge, while other species may adapt to ice-free coastal environments. The ice-accustomed species may also find suitable feeding sources in two of the subject regions or formerly ice-covered seas. A foreseen issue is competition with already migrant species in Arctic habitats (Moore & Huntington).

Springer (1998 as qtd by Burket et al. 2015, Doney 2015, NOAA 2012)) conducted a study, which found the strong link between the extreme fluctuations in several marine birds and mammals in the Arctic regions and physical changes, such as climate warming. He pointed to climatic variations, which began in the 90s as linked to the El Nino phenomenon. In combination with overfishing, climate changes have been associated with behavioral changes in killer whales. Further effects are reduced sea otter abundance and ecological alteration of kelp forests (Estes et al. 1998 as qtd in Burket et al., Doney, NOAA). These changes have led to changes in prey as induced by sustained climate change. This chain of change events has been identified as creating these impacts on marine animals and their food chain.

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As so marine mammals in particular, extended ice-free season in the Arctic region leads to extended fasting of polar bears, which in turn may create unknown effects on the seal population.. Reduced ice cover correspondingly reduces successful food hunting by polar bears and reduction of their populations. These connected reductions negatively impact the lifestyle, food volume and availability, and overall health conditions of indigenous populations, which thrive on them (Hansell et al. 1998 as qtd by Burket et al., Doney, NOAA).

The worst effect of climate change on marine mammals consists in the changes of their food resources (Learmouth et al. 2006). Many of their species depend on certain environmental conditions for their prey. When climate change disturbs the geographic distribution of these conditions, that change can consequently and ultimately disrupt or destroy these mammals' reproduction success and survival itself (Learmouth et al.).

It is thus highly probable that global climate change will assert huge impacts on sea-ice environments in an extensive way and time (NOAA 2012, SAHFO n.d.). The first impacts are most likely to be felt in this habitat first and marine mammals are the first to be affected. Reduced sea ice is perceived to modify seasonal distributions, geographical ranges, patterns of migration, nutritional conditions, reproductive rate, and the very population or number of Arctic marine mammals (NOAA, SAHFO).

In summary, the potential effects or impacts of climate change on marine mammals may be direct or indirect (Learmouth et al. 2006). These effects or impacts are direct if they reduce sea ice or rising sea levels on seal sites or mammal species thriving on a specific range of temperatures in order to survive. They are indirect if they affect the availability of prey as to its distribution, volume, patterns of migration, their community structure, susceptibility to contamination and illness. All these conditions taken together will ultimately affect reproductive conditions and the mammals' very survival. It must be remembered that the geographical distribution of these animals is restricted. They thus have very little or no chances of habitation and survival when the climate turns adverse to their highly specific requirements. Their condition has far-reaching implications that deserve serious research and considerations that also involve several areas connected with their condition (Learmouth et al.).

Current Situation and Measures

What can be done?

The precise science must be developed and combined with reliable traditional knowledge to address the emergency situation (Reynolds et al. n.d., Burek et al. 2008). Collect and transmit the exact information on the situation to policy makers for decision and action. This information should use terminology, which will embody the precise condition and define basic values that it affects (Reynolds et al., Burek et al.).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Burek, K. A. et al. Effects of Climate Change in Arctic Marine Mammals. Vol. 18, 2

Supplement, Ecological Applications, 2008. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18494366

Burkett, V., et al. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Chapter 6 Coastal Zone and Marine

Ecosystem: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2015. Retrieved on October 9, 2015

from http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg2/index.php?idp=291

Doney, Scott. Effects of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on Living Marine Resources.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute,2015. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from https://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=8916&tid=282&cid=27206

Evans, Peter G. H., et al. Climate Change and Marine Mammals, 2010. Vol. 90, # 8, Journal of Maine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.seawatchfoudation.uk/up-content/uploads/20/2012/08/Evans-et-al-2010_climate-change.pdf

GBRMPA. Climate change Impacts on Marine Mammals. The Great Barriers Reefs Marine Park

Authority. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/threats-to-the-reef/climate-change/what-does-this-mean-for-species/marine-mammals

Learmonth, J. A.,, et al. Potential Effects of Climate Change on Marine Mammals 2006.

Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review: Taylor & Francis. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.abdn.ac.uk/marfish/pdfs/Learmoth2006.pdf

Moore, Sue. E. and Huntington, Henry P. Arctic Marine Mammals and Climate Change: Impacts

and Resilience, 2008. Vol. 18 # 2, Ecological Applicants: Ecological Society of America.

Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/101890/06-0571.1

NOAA. International Marine 2012. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: National

Marine Fisheries. Retrieved on October 9, 2015 from http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/species/marine_mammals/immap.pdf

Reynolds, John, et al. Climate Change and Arctic Marine Animals: an Uneasy Glance into the Future, n.d. Alaska Native Science Commissio: Department of Wildlife. Retrieved on October

9, 2015 from http://www.nativescience.org/issues/Reynolds%20Climate%20Change%20and%20arctic%Marine%20Mammals.pdf

SAHFOS. Marine Mammals -- Marine Climate change Impacts, n.d. Retrieved on October 9,

2015 from http://www.sahfos.ac.uk/climate%20encyclopedia/marinemammals.html….....

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