Impact of Marine Heat Waves on Humpback Whales

A recent study analyzed how climate change, particularly a marine heat wave known as 'the blob,' affected the North Pacific humpback whale population. This heat wave, which occurred from 2014 to 2016, resulted in significant ecological disruptions, leading to declines in fish populations and massive die-offs of marine birds. Researchers observed that the humpback whale population, while recovering since the early 2000s, began to plummet around 2015 due to these changes in the marine ecosystem. The findings highlight the vulnerability of humpback whales to climate fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of monitoring environmental conditions to understand their long-term effects on marine life.