Populations of charismatic animals have recovered since hunting ban but now struggle to find enough food.
Antarctic fur seals that were hunted to near extinction have recovered but now face dangerous decline because of a lack of food, new research suggests.
Prized and hunted for their pelts in the 1700s and 1800s, by the early 1900s there were too few animals left to hunt commercially. Combined with stronger conservation protections, plenty of food and fast breeding, the population boomed and recovered much more quickly than other previously hunted species in the region, including humpback whales. By the year 2000, South Georgia was reportedly home to between 4.5 million and 6.2 million fur seals.
Fur seal populations at Bird Island, a well-studied location in the northwest of South Georgia, showed among the fastest rebounds over the last century or so. But the new survey identified a worrying reversal: numbers peaked in 2009 and have declined by 7% each year since. That takes the island's current population down to a level not seen since the 1970s, when the population was still recovering.
This sensitivity of fur seals to krill availability, along with the existence of longer-term population data, is what makes them an important known indicator for the ecosystems around Bird Island. More detailed research is needed to establish why krill around Bird Island is now less available, and how widespread the change could be across the rest of the Southern Ocean.
Ninety years of change, from commercial extinction to recovery, range expansion and decline for Antarctic fur seals at South GeorgiaAre wildlife populations in Sweden increasing or decreasing? It is difficult to count wild animals, but the amount harvested through hunting gives an indication. Now, these statistics can be made ...
日本 最新ニュース, 日本 見出し
Similar News:他のニュース ソースから収集した、これに似たニュース記事を読むこともできます。
Lack of food is the new threat to Antarctic fur seals, research suggestsAntarctic fur seals that were hunted to near extinction have recovered but now face dangerous decline because of a lack of food, new research suggests.
続きを読む »
Why LA's Bird Populations Today Are Evidence Of Historical RedliningJulia Paskin is a producer for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
続きを読む »
Welcome to the new, ‘new’ Middle EastIn late September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heralded a prosperous and connected “New Middle East.” But it turns out the “old” Middle East was impossible to bury.
続きを読む »
New Men's Fashion Stores in New York City Fall 2023: DetailsSeveral menswear brands are setting up permanent locations to engage with their customers and offer exclusive products in-person.
続きを読む »
Bluemercury Unveils New Store Format in New CanaanIt will serve as a test-and-learn location for new experiences, formats and services.
続きを読む »
Flights from Israel arrive at New York, New Jersey airports as Americans try to escape warThere were many emotional reunions at Newark Liberty International Airport as parents and children waited for family members to return from Israel.
続きを読む »