03 December 2024: New study highlights climate change challenges for killer whales in the Arctic

A recent study by Garroway and colleagues, titled “Climate change introduces threatened killer whale populations and conservation challenges to the Arctic”, was published in Global Change Biology in June 2024. The research explores how climate change is enabling killer whales to expand their range into the Arctic, creating new conservation challenges for both the killer whales and the ecosystems they inhabit.

As sea ice continues to retreat, killer whales are venturing further north, potentially competing with native species for resources. This study highlights the dual challenge of conserving killer whale populations while addressing their impact on Arctic ecosystems already under stress from climate change. It underscores the urgent need for strategies that balance the conservation of Arctic biodiversity with the increasing presence of these top predators.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17352

Photo credit: Fernando Ugarte