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El Niño marine heatwave raises concern for humpback whales

Original: How will Humpbacks cope with the current El Niño causing a marine heatwave? A record marine heatwave from 2014 to 2016 d

Scientists and wildlife watchers are discussing how humpback whales will cope with the marine heatwave driven by the current El Niño. A previous record heatwave from 2014 to 2016 disrupted the food web humpbacks depend on, and the North Pacific population fell by roughly 20% between 2012 and 2021, a decline of about 7,000 whales, raising fears of a similar impact.

Why now: The current El Niño is producing marine heatwave conditions resembling the 2014-2016 event that sharply reduced humpback numbers.

humpback whalesEl NiñoNorth Pacific

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