Impacts of climate change on cetacean distribution, habitat and migration

Weelden, Celine van; Towers, Jared R.; Bosker, Thijs

doi:10.1016/j.ecochg.2021.100009

Cited by 52 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…Changes in the occurrence and distribution of bowhead whales may over time be driven by expansions and reductions in sea ice coverage at high latitudes that enhance or restrict the habitat individuals are able to explore and exploit (Dyke et al, 1996 ; Foote et al, 2013 ; Heide‐Jørgensen et al, 2012 ; Laidre et al, 2008 ). It is expected that the range of some ice‐associated species like the bowhead whale will generally contract as ice continues to melt in the Arctic (Chambault et al, 2018 ; van Weelden et al, 2021 ). Yet, this loss of sea ice has enhanced primary production (Lewis et al, 2020 ), and although the sustainability of this relationship remains unclear (Tremblay & Gagnon, 2009 ), the related increase in prey availability for bowhead whales has improved body condition of individuals (George et al, 2015 ) and growth of the BCB population (Givens et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific

Towers

Pilkington

Mason³

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Bowhead whales occur in the Arctic year‐round. Their movements are largely correlated with seasonal expansions and reductions of sea ice, but a few recent extralimital sightings have occurred in the eastern and western North Atlantic and one was also documented in the western North Pacific over 50 years ago. Here we present details of a juvenile bowhead whale that was photographed and filmed from above and below the water while it was skim‐feeding in Caamaño Sound, BC, Canada on May 31, 2016. This sighting occurred over 2000 km southeast from the nearest known range for this species in the Bering Sea at a time that most bowhead whales in that region would have been migrating northeast. This sighting represents the first and only documentation of a bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific to date.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific

Towers

Pilkington

Mason³

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Though these conditions directly influence energetic calculations, it should be considered that total changes for even the most extreme scenario were well within the seasonal variation experienced by porpoises (Figure 2), making any population‐level impacts undetectable. Cetacean populations may be threatened by additional impacts of climate change which were not considered here, such as distribution shifts, habitat loss, temporal mismatches with prey, and reduced fertility and health (van Weelden et al., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy‐mediated responses to changing prey size and distribution in marine top predator movements and population dynamics

Gallagher

Chimienti

Grimm

et al. 2021

Journal of Animal Ecology

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1. Climate change is modifying the structure of marine ecosystems, including that of fish communities. Alterations in abiotic and biotic conditions can decrease fish size and change community spatial arrangement, ultimately impacting predator species which rely on these communities. To conserve predators and understand the drivers of observed changes in their population dynamics, we must advance our understanding of how shifting environmental conditions can impact populations by limiting food available to individuals. K E Y W O R D S agent-based model, climate change effects, energy budgets, harbour porpoise, hidden Markov modelling, marine mammal, physiological ecology, predictive ecology | 243

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“…[18,32,33]). Indeed, a recent systematic review (58 articles, 29 species) on climate change and distribution, migration and habitat use showed a poleward shift for many species [34]. Habitat usage is species-specific, meaning that while some species may move between different temperature zones, others might be more constrained.…”

Section: Consequences On Distribution Abundance Phenology and Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change and cetacean health: impacts and future directions

Kebke

Samarra

Derous

2022

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Climate change directly impacts the foraging opportunities of cetaceans (e.g. lower prey availability), leads to habitat loss, and forces cetaceans to move to other feeding grounds. The rise in ocean temperature, low prey availability and loss of habitat can have severe consequences for cetacean survival, particularly those species that are already threatened or those with a limited habitat range. In addition, it is predicted that the concentration of contaminants in aquatic environments will increase owing to Arctic meltwater and increased rainfall events leading to higher rates of land-based runoff in downstream coastal areas. These persistent and mobile contaminants can bioaccumulate in the ecosystem, and lead to ecotoxicity with potentially severe consequences on the reproductive organs, immune system and metabolism of marine mammals. There is a need to measure and assess the cumulative impact of multiple stressors, given that climate change, habitat alteration, low prey availability and contaminants do not act in isolation. Human-caused perturbations to cetacean foraging abilities are becoming a pervasive and prevalent threat to many cetacean species on top of climate change-associated stressors. We need to move to a greater understanding of how multiple stressors impact the metabolism of cetaceans and ultimately their population trajectory. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Nurturing resilient marine ecosystems’.

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Impacts of climate change on cetacean distribution, habitat and migration

Cited by 52 publications

References 114 publications

A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific

A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific

Energy‐mediated responses to changing prey size and distribution in marine top predator movements and population dynamics

Climate change and cetacean health: impacts and future directions

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