Marine mammal conservation: over the horizon

Endangered Species Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 44, P. 291 - 325

Published: Jan. 28, 2021

Marine mammals can play important ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, and their presence be key to community structure function. Consequently, marine are often considered indicators of ecosystem health flagship species. Yet, historical population declines caused by exploitation, additional current threats, such as climate change, fisheries bycatch, pollution maritime development, continue impact many mammal species, at least 25% classified threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) on the IUCN Red List. Conversely, some species have experienced increases/recoveries recent decades, reflecting management interventions, heralded conservation successes. To these successes reverse downward trajectories at-risk it is necessary evaluate threats faced mechanisms available address them. Additionally, there a need identify evidence-based priorities both research needs across range settings taxa. that effect we: (1) outline impacts, associated knowledge gaps recommend actions needed; (2) discuss merits downfalls established emerging mechanisms; (3) application monitoring techniques; (4) highlight particular taxa/populations urgent focus.

Language: Английский

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Fasting season length sets temporal limits for global polar bear persistence

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(8), P. 732 - 738

Published: July 20, 2020

Language: Английский

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The rapidly changing Arctic and its societal implications

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(6)

Published: Sept. 7, 2021

Abstract The Arctic is undergoing rapid climate change and projected to experience the most warming this century of any world region. We review societal aspects these current changes. Indigenous knowledge local holders living in communities across have detected unprecedented increases temperature, altered precipitation regimes, changing weather patterns, documenting impacts on terrestrial marine environments. These observations situate as one multiple interacting stressors. societies exhibited resilience change, but vulnerabilities are emerging at nexus environmental conditions socioeconomic pressures. Infrastructure highly susceptible permafrost thaw, coastal erosion, sea level rise, compounded by age infrastructure, maintenance challenges, cost adapting. Livelihoods cultural activities linked subsistence harvesting been affected changes wildlife, with coping mechanisms undermined long‐term processes land dispossession landscape fragmentation. Reduced ice coverage dynamics creating opportunities for enhanced shipping, oil gas production, deep‐water fisheries. Legal, infrastructural, economic, climatic challenges expected constrain such developments, concerns over distribution potential benefits. Adaptation already taking place some sectors regions, efforts directly targeting also addressing underlying determinants vulnerability. Barriers limits adapting evident. Research that develops projections future advancing, studies examining implications or economies remain their infancy. This article categorized under: Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Regional Reviews

Language: Английский

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Coming home - Boreal ecosystem claims Atlantic sector of the Arctic

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 771, P. 144817 - 144817

Published: Jan. 26, 2021

The Atlantification of the European Arctic has been an increasingly discussed topic in polar science over past two decades. alteration local marine ecosystems towards a more temperate state and appearance/range expansion subarctic-boreal species at higher latitudes is complex phenomenon induced mainly by changing properties Atlantic water (AW) transported from south. Areas under direct influence AW experience biological their communities on all trophic levels, resulting growing complexity arctic food webs. Here, besides summarising main documented messages Atlantification, we take critical view threat posed communities. We into account formation fauna, as well nature (re)colonisation sites boreal organisms when evaluating extent issue. look history colonisations attempt to identify 'neonative taxa returning home'. also highlight role floating plastic debris 'instrument toolbox Anthropocene' aiding distribution taxa.

Language: Английский

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Glacial ice supports a distinct and undocumented polar bear subpopulation persisting in late 21st-century sea-ice conditions

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 376(6599), P. 1333 - 1338

Published: June 16, 2022

Polar bears are susceptible to climate warming because of their dependence on sea ice, which is declining rapidly. We present the first evidence for a genetically distinct and functionally isolated group polar in Southeast Greenland. These occupy sea-ice conditions resembling those projected High Arctic late 21st century, with an annual ice-free period that >100 days longer than estimated fasting threshold species. Whereas most depend ice catch seals, Greenland have year-round hunting platform form freshwater glacial mélange. This suggests marine-terminating glaciers, although limited availability, may serve as previously unrecognized refugia. Conservation bears, meet criteria recognition world's 20th bear subpopulation, necessary preserve genetic diversity evolutionary potential

Language: Английский

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Interrelated ecological impacts of climate change on an apex predator

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 30(4)

Published: Jan. 11, 2020

Climate change has broad ecological implications for species that rely on sensitive habitats. For some top predators, loss of habitat is expected to lead cascading behavioral, nutritional, and reproductive changes ultimately accelerate population declines. In the case polar bear (Ursus maritimus), declining Arctic sea ice reduces access prey lengthens seasonal fasting periods. We used a novel combination physical capture, biopsy darting, visual aerial observation data project performance bears by linking in use, body condition (i.e., fatness), cub production. Satellite telemetry from 43 (1991-1997) 38 (2009-2015) adult female Baffin Bay subpopulation showed now spend an additional 30 d land (90 total) 2000s compared 1990s, closely correlated with spring breakup fall formation. Body declined all sex, age, classes was positively availability current previous year. Furthermore, litter size maternal date later leading larger litters), negatively duration ice-free period longer periods smaller litters). Based these relationships, we projected three generations into future (approximately 35 yr). Results indicate two-cub litters, previously norm, could largely disappear as continues. Our findings demonstrate how concurrent analysis multiple types collected over long can provide mechanistic understanding climate change. This information needed long-term conservation planning, which includes quantitative harvest risk assessments incorporate estimated or assumed trends environmental carrying capacity.

Language: Английский

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Ecological impacts of climate change on Arctic marine megafauna

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(8), P. 773 - 783

Published: May 16, 2023

Global warming affects the Arctic more than any other region. Mass media constantly relay apocalyptic visions of climate change threatening wildlife, especially emblematic megafauna such as polar bears, whales, and seabirds. Yet, we are just beginning to understand ecological impacts on marine at scale Arctic. This knowledge is geographically taxonomically biased, with striking deficiencies in Russian strong focus exploited species cod. Beyond a synthesis scientific advances past 5 years, provide ten key questions be addressed by future work outline requested methodology. framework builds upon long-term monitoring inclusive local communities whilst capitalising high-tech big data approaches.

Language: Английский

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Winter is coming: Interactions of multiple stressors in winter and implications for the natural world

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(24), P. 6834 - 6845

Published: Sept. 30, 2023

Winter is a key driver of ecological processes in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, particularly higher latitudes. Species have evolved various adaptive strategies to cope with food limitations the cold dark wintertime. However, human-induced climate change other anthropogenic stressors are impacting organisms winter unpredictable ways. In this paper, we show that global experiments investigating multiple predominantly been conducted during summer months. effects sometimes differ between seasons, necessitating comprehensive investigations. Here, outline framework for understanding different compared seasons discuss primary mechanisms will alter responses (microbes, animals plants). For instance, while magnitude some can be greater than (e.g. pollutants), others may alleviate natural stress warmer temperatures). These changes immediate, delayed or carry-over on later seasons. Interactions also vary season. We call renewed research direction focusing stressor ecology evolution fully understand, predict, how ecosystems fare under changing winters. argue importance incorporating interactions into risk assessments, management conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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Arctic marine ecosystems face increasing climate stress

Environmental Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 403 - 451

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Arctic warming is occurring at a much faster rate than in other parts of the globe, with potentially devastating consequences for diverse array species within ecologically and biologically sensitive areas marine region. However, climate change research this region sparse compared to biomes, hindering conservation efforts. In article, we review synthesize available literature understand observed potential impacts on different ecosystems We reviewed 253 articles reporting changes response (225 studies documenting 28 predicted impacts). The revealed that most effort has been concentrated only subset Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) (5/18 LMEs), majority LMEs being poorly studied. papers focused mammals (19%) followed by microalgae (17%). A number documented variability planktonic communities (microalgae, macroalgae, zooplankton), resulting alteration ecosystem structure function. Reproductive failure, decline populations, diet composition, behavior, breeding biology were reported sea birds mammals. Further, shifts spatial distribution fishes several studies. This provides persuasive evidence multiple indices are changing, almost all components biotic (from plankton top predators). identify gaps (such as limited inventory biota, robustness data supporting an Ocean scale, suitability assessment species) where future can help quantify advance understanding their adaptive management.

Language: Английский

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Transient benefits of climate change for a high‐Arctic polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulation

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 6251 - 6265

Published: Sept. 23, 2020

Abstract Kane Basin (KB) is one of the world's most northerly polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) subpopulations, where bears have historically inhabited a mix thick multiyear and annual sea ice year‐round. Currently, KB transitioning to seasonally ice‐free region because climate change. This ecological shift has been hypothesized benefit in near‐term due thinner with increased biological production, although this not demonstrated empirically. We assess sea‐ice changes together movements, seasonal ranges, body condition, reproductive metrics obtained from capture–recapture (physical genetic) satellite telemetry studies during two study periods (1993–1997 2012–2016). The cycle habitat shifted year‐round platform (~50% coverage summer) 1990s nearly complete melt‐out summer (<5% coverage) 2010s. mean duration between retreat advance 109 160 days p = .004). Between 2010s, adult female (AF) ranges more than doubled spring were significantly larger all months. Body condition scores improved for ages both sexes. Mean litter sizes cubs‐of‐the‐year (C0s) yearlings (C1s), number C1s per AF, did change decades. date previous year was positively correlated C1 size, suggesting smaller litters following years earlier breakup. Our provides evidence range expansion, stable performance subpopulation. These changes, likely increasing subpopulation abundance, may reflect thick, thinner, higher productivity. these benefits unknown because, under unmitigated change, continued loss expected eventually negative demographic effects on bears.

Language: Английский

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