"The extent of sea ice in the Arctic has been significantly reduced in recent years, and this will accelerate in the coming decades and lead to further loss of bowhead whale summer habitat," says the researcher behind the study. Photo: Anders Drud Jordan
Climate change threatens the survival of the bowhead whale
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The bowhead whale, one of the world’s largest marine mammals, is facing a serious threat due to climate change.
A new projection from the University of Copenhagen shows that up to 75 percent of the whale’s habitats could disappear by the end of this century.
The bowhead whale, which can weigh up to 100 tons and live over 200 years, exclusively inhabits cold, arctic waters. According to Ph.D. Nicholas Freymueller from the Globe Institute and the University of Adelaide, the loss of habitat will have a significant impact on the species’ future distribution and existence.
One of the hardest-hit areas is expected to be the Okhotsk Sea, located between eastern Siberia and Japan. Here, the whale’s summer habitat is likely to disappear completely by 2060.
The primary cause of the decline is the rapidly shrinking sea ice cover in the Arctic. For thousands of years, bowhead whales have sought food in areas with 15-30 percent ice cover during the summer. Data from fossils, old whaling logs, and computer models show that habitats have been relatively stable for 11,700 years – until now.
“The extent of sea ice has significantly reduced in recent years and will continue to decline, leading to further loss of summer habitat,” says Professor Eline Lorenzen from the Globe Institute.
The few areas that are expected to still have suitable ice cover by 2100 are primarily located outside the continental shelf, where depth limits the food supply. This could further worsen the whale’s survival chances.
Researchers emphasize that historical knowledge of the bowhead whale’s habitats can be actively used in conservation efforts.
“Our models provide important insights into where and how much habitat will be lost, and can help target the global management of the species,” says Eline Lorenzen.
The bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, is the only baleen whale that spends its entire life in arctic waters and is known for its unique song, which it uses for communication.
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