Climate change, the number of whales falls seriously

A recent study found that the number of whales in the east coast of the United States is severely reduced.

The impact of climate change does not leave any country in the world, including a powerful country like the United States. A recent study found that the number of whales in the eastern sea of ​​this country is severely reduced.

The number of humpback whales is severely declining in the eastern United States - (Photo: Tom Fernald).

At least twice a day, starting at dusk, Mount Desert stone scientists, Maine, have to climb the craggy steps, add a few stairs, crawl through a thick grass door. theater to observe and record information of whales spraying water on the sea.

This rock is 25 nautical miles from Bar Harbor, which recognizes the global effort to study this endangered marine species.

Only this year, the number of observations of whales in the region is less than that, indicating a growing threat to both humpback whales and north Atlantic whales along the east coast. America.

Reduced unprecedented

Mount Desert Rock where experiments were conducted in Maine in 2011 - (Photo: North Atlantic Humpback Whale) Catalog

This past summer, the number of humpback whales identified from this rocky site is disturbing public opinion: the group only observed 8 children instead of 12 as usual.

It is estimated that 53 humpback whales have died during the last 19 months, mainly due to touching boats or fishing nets of fishermen.

"Food is becoming less and less dispersed, thus forcing animals to move more. The more they move, the more they are at risk , " said Scott Kraus from New England Ocean Institute. .

North Atlantic whales - species that like cold water flows are also declining at a more severe level. Specifically, 15 whales have died since mid-April, making this population only 450.

The number of declining whales is worrying - (Photo: North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog).

"We have never recorded such a serious decline in plain whales since stopping the sale of them in the New England coastal area in the 1700s," Professor Karus said.

Currently, the New England Oceanographic Institute maintains a picture of a North Atlantic whale to record their individual numbers. And very risky, one day, visitors to the Oceanographic Institute can only observe the whale whale through those photos.

Die on the road to find food

From an office computer in the only house on Mount Desert Rock, researchers used 36,000 photos of 9,500 individuals to track whales.

Also on this island in the 1970s, scientists first determined that each pattern on the whale tail is completely separate. This is an identifiable trait that cannot be changed, like the face of a human, unless their tail is damaged when hitting a boat, when bitten by sharks or severed by fishing hooks.

The pattern on the whale tail is almost unchanged.The right picture, taken in 1975, was taken in 1993 - (Photo: North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog).

Today, a mathematical software makes it easier to identify whales when dividing photos into different types based on patterns on the tail, largely determined by the white or black ratio of the tail.

According to experts, the software must be further improved because they sometimes still use the naked eye to distinguish it by computer errors. However, they do not have enough funds to invest in that technology.

After the study period, scientists here found that Maine Bay is warming at the fastest rate on Earth, and that temperature changes will cause a shift in the phytoplankton food flow.

When whales follow these food lines to other places, they will be able to enter the roads of the ships or catch fishermen's hooks.

Plain whale fish in Portland - (Photo: H. Pettis).

Steven Katona was one of the first researchers to begin analyzing whales in the 1970s. Professor Katona and her colleagues photographed humpback whales on a list, then confirmed the patterns. in the whale tail whale will last forever throughout their life cycle.

This picture may tell scientists that whales currently eating on the edge of the Caribbean Sea then expand the traditional feeding area, from the eastern sea to Newfoundland and Labrador, Greenland, Iceland.

"These animals are difficult to study because most of the time they dive underwater. We can only see them for a few moments when they raise their tails from the sea surface or when they spray water to breathe. It is more difficult when must always carry tools to record material, " said Allen, deputy director of the Allied Whale ocean mammal research lab.

Judy Allen said understanding whale habits may be the key to helping us to save them in the warming waters and to share the habitat with the fishermen and boats of the fishermen.

In addition, there is a need for a global effort to limit the impact of climate change on marine species in general and whales in particular.