Boom-bust cycles in gray whales associated with dynamic and changing Arctic conditions

• DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1847
• Publication Date: 2023-10-12T18:00:31Z
• Authors: Joshua D. Stewart; Trevor W. Joyce; John W. Durban; John Calambokidis; Deborah Fauquier; Holly Fearnbach; Jacqueline M. Gre...; Morgan Lynn; Manfredi Manizza; Wayne L. Perryman; M. Tim Tinker; David W. Weller
• Keywords: Bust

Climate change is affecting a wide range of global systems, with polar ecosystems experiencing the most rapid change. Although climate impacts affect lower-trophic-level and short-lived species directly, it less clear how long-lived mobile will respond to warming because they may have short-term ability accommodate ecological disruptions while adapting new conditions. We found that population dynamics an iconic highly polar-associated are tightly coupled Arctic prey availability access feeding areas. When low biomass coincided high ice cover, gray whales experienced major mortality events, each reducing by 15 25%. This suggests even mobile, sensitive dynamic changing conditions as warms.