Two mammal-eating "transient" killer whales photographed off the south side of Unimak Island, eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Image: Robert Pittman/Alaska Fisheries Science Center
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Overview
The Future of Climate Change
Imagine a planet where jellyfish rule the seas, giant rodents roam the mountains and swarms of insects blur everything in sight. It may sound far-fetched, but enough global warming is likely to change the distribution of wildlife on Earth. While species that are under threat, such as the polar bear, seem to get all the attention, others are beginning to thrive like never before.
In the past three months, new studies have been published about killer whales, wandering albatross and trumpeter swans—all of which appear to be benefiting from climate change.
Melting ice is turning the Arctic Sea into a giant buffet for killer whales. They have been arriving in growing numbers to feed on belugas, seals and narwhals, according to a recent study by scientists from the University of Manitoba. Warmer temperatures make it easier for the whales to hunt because their prey is less likely to climb onto sea ice or hide below it to escape.
At the opposite end of the world, in Antarctica's Southern Ocean, changing winds have been helping the wandering albatross find food faster. Researchers say global warming has produced stronger air currents that allow the birds to spend less time away from their nests, increasing the odds that their chicks will survive.
"The duration of foraging trips has decreased, breeding success has improved and birds have increased in mass by more than 1 kilogram," wrote the study's authors, who called their findings "positive consequences of climate change."
In Arctic areas, global warming is happening at roughly twice the average speed, which has allowed Alaska's trumpeter swans to expand their breeding grounds northward into regions that were previously too cold, according to a study published in Wildlife Biology in December.
"We knew that the population was expanding, both in numbers and spatially on the landscape," said Joshua Schmidt, a biometrician for the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program and a co-author of the study.
Ice age veterans swan around
After analyzing more than 40 years of data, researchers discovered the swans were benefiting in two ways from global warming: They had expanded their territory northward, and they were seeing about three more snow-free days than before 1940. These shorter winters mean the swans—which were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1800s—now have more time to eat and grow strong before embarking on a long migration to the Pacific Northwest each fall, improving their chances for survival.
"Swans have been through an ice age or two, so climate change isn't something they haven't seen before," said James King, a biologist who used to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. After studying swans for about 50 years, King believes the birds "know how to deal with climate change." Historically, they have found ways to outsmart the cold by nesting near hot springs, which prolongs their breeding season, he said.
"There will definitely be some animals that will do better with longer summer and milder winter," said Paul Curtis, an extension wildlife specialist at Cornell University. "Fifty years from now, central New York may be as warm as North or South Carolina. It's a much faster change than we've seen any time historically, and it's just a question of how some of these species will respond."
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23 Comments
Add CommentThere you go again, spouting political agenda as science. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the polar bear population is threatened, especially by Al Gore's favorite invention - "Global Warming." In fact some studies suggest that the polar bear population is on the rise (Google it!). As for the speculation of what species would benefit from a warmer climate, we only have to look at the earth's history. All cold blooded animals would benefit and thrive. In fact, the environment would be so friendly that the cold blooded animals could possibly grow in size causing a recurrence of the dinosaurs. Considering that the so-called cause of this warming is increasing CO2 levels, plants, which breathe CO2 would also thrive. Increasing plants and grasses would feed the ever growing animal population. Mammals, having shown remarkable abilities to adapt, would also thrive. Humans, most of which have shed their body hair millenniums ago would also thrive. In fact the propensity to shed clothing in warming climates could spark a new baby boom of unprecedented proportions. A warmer climate could result in some grand and wonderful things. But then again, without a shred of scientific proof, all of this including this ridiculous article is just political hype.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow can 3 days of extra feeding time significantly impact any animal population? Averaging out those 3 days across the entire feeding season does not mount an argument for an increase in survivability; it simply sounds silly.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYour headline claims tics will increase, i.e., sudden, spasmodic, painless, involuntary muscular contractions, as of the face. Surely global warming can't be responsible for tics. Is it ticks then that will plague us?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"There is no science in this article."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHave you actually read the article?
"In the past three months, new studies have been published about killer whales, wandering albatross and trumpeter swans—all of which appear to be benefiting from climate change."
More deer, more BBQ! It only gets better!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisActually most species exist in a pretty narrow energy balance where a change of a percent or two is quite significant over the whole population. 1% more calories, maybe a percent more surviving young, jump population growth from say 3% a year to 4% a year, makes a pretty big difference before very long.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"There you go again, spouting political agenda as science...especially by Al Gore's favorite invention..."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo, who's spouting political agenda again? Pot, meet kettle...kettle, this is pot.
"All cold blooded animals would benefit and thrive. In fact, the environment would be so friendly that the cold blooded animals could possibly grow in size causing a recurrence of the dinosaurs."
And this is good why? Too bad humans are WARM-BLOODED.
"But then again, without a shred of scientific proof..."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow, how do you keep your head from exploding due to all the contradictions, hypocracy and will disregard for reality in there?
The article has some merit. Already we have seen a global explosion of alarmists. As their numbers increase they are consuming more & more of the public purse. This is leading to more & shriller claims generating a maelstrom of activity. As they chase their tails in tighter circles in an insatiable clamour for funds their demise becomes inevitable. Like the legendary gooney birds they will soon disappear up their own backsides.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSimple observation and common sense. In water logged places(small sewage canals) in our olden days Kerosene used to be sprayed(in India). Kerosene spreads on the top and thus sun-rays are prevented for the Mosquito eggs being germinated.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHence Global warming has its own implications as suggested in the article.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com
If you hate this site so much, why don't you comment somewhere else?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSince Anthropogenic Climate Change is the defining issue of the 21st Century, you shouldn't throw around that alarmist label lightly. So who exactly are the "alarmists"? People who accept that CO2 traps heat and know that it's building up in the atmosphere? What level of climate sensitivity do people have to accept to differentiate themselves between "realists" and "alarmists" in your opinion? 1.5C...2C...3C?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBS alarms always ring with me when people make statements about 'Warmists' and 'Alarmists' and these word seem to be interchangeable with 'Researching Scientists'.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was under the impression that the last climate change estimates say that it's only going to be warm for a short time before it gets cold.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThese GOP deniers must live in a sanitized indoor environment and never go out into nature where they will choke on car exhaust or gag on the bitter tasting water in the stream that comes from the strip mine runoff. Better to play it safe, I reckon, and deny it is happening while you count all those billions of dollars you made off of destroying the environment and your grandchildren's future.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMaybe we should try and increase our bat population to help with the insects and carry more powerful guns so we can shoot those growing rats; the two legged and the four legged kind.
Look up Marble Bar & Cloncurry temperatures. I lived in both places quite comfortably. On the other hand I found a winter in Helsinki quite uncomfortable.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMarble Bar heatwave, 1923-24
The world record for the longest sequence of days above 100°Fahrenheit (or 37.8° on the Celsius scale) is held by Marble Bar in the inland Pilbara district of Western Australia. The temperature, measured under standard exposure conditions, reached or exceeded the century mark every day from 31 October 1923 to 7 April 1924, a total of 160 days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Bar,_Western_Australia
(Reference 5)
Cloncurry was widely regarded as holding the record for the highest temperature recorded in Australia at 127.5 °F (53.1 °C) on 16 January 1889. Recent investigations have revealed that this temperature was measured in an improvised screen made from a beer crate and that it equated to 47–49 °C under standard conditions.[5]
The modern climatologists have found an excuse not to recognise the old temperature record. does not do to have the hottest day way back then. Different with present day heat islands of course.
I checked my meds expiration date and they are still good.
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRare pelicans starving in Caspian Sea
by: From correspondents in Makhachkala, Russia
From: AP
February 21, 201210:36PM
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Not enough warming?
AUTHORITIES in a province in southern Russia are trying to save hundreds of endangered Dalmatian pelicans starving in the Caspian Sea after it froze for the first time in years.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/rare-pelicans-starving-in-caspian-sea/story-fn3dxity-1226277614167
Nothing like a climate discussion to bring out the nutbags that skipped science class and went to bible study.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSorry, but it's your interpretation of the situation that is "political hype." You have fallen hook, line and sinker for a cultural assault on science, made up of wild conservative conspiracy theories and corporate propoganda to further personal agendas.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe entire scientific community - people of every conceivable background and scientific field - agrees that Earth is in an unheard of warming trend and that humans are a significant influence. It's an obervable scientific truth world-wide, so undeniable to the objective researcher that even the fiercest academic rivals are forced to agree that it's happening.
Only a tiny fraction of "scientists" (more often people with no scientific background at all) have even CLAIMED to have evidence against these facts, and in every single case, these individuals are working for the same businesses that lose money under environmental regulations or otherwise have something personal to gain from your doubt of scientific consensus. Meanwhile, most of the millions of other researchers who accept Global Warming have NOTHING to conceivably gain by falsifying information.
There is positively no question that climate change is happening even from its skeptics, and to real scientists there is positively no question that human industry is the biggest factor; the only mysteries are some of the full extent of its effects, though most if not all predicted effects are already happening on schedule or worse than initially expected.
LOL, you can't be serious. It's the global warming doubters who have money to gain by convincing people nothing is wrong. Scientists don't benefit at all, but as a whole they are still telling the world straight-up truth. All global warming controversy is media fabrication...not only are your so-called "alarmists" completely correct, but our impact on the climate and the negative effects of that impact increasigly prove WORSE than science ever expected.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGlobal Cooling:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this- note JAXA - from the country that held Kyoto ...
North America and Europe are Carbon Sequesters (They take in more carbon than they use). Most 3rd world countries burning wood are emitters
http://www.ilovemycarbondioxide.com/pdf/JAXA_satellite_data_contradicts_carbon_emissions_alarm.pdf
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/10/20101021_daichi_e.html
NASA - says 0 / None - Nada warming for the past 15 years and a cooling trend
Forget global warming - it's Cycle 25 we need to worry about (and if ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Forget-global-warming--Cycle-25-need-wor...
Jan 29, 2012 – Met Office releases new figures which show no warming in 15 years ... Analysis by experts at NASA and the University of Arizona – derived from ... would be small, the Met Office was relying on the same computer models that are .... I do know that the earth's climate has changed many times in the roughly ...
Well gee, if there was anything to this ridiculous assertion, then there should be tons of evidence of plagues of mosquitoes, ticks, rodents and jellyfish during the medieval warming period. Right? You know, the warmest global period in written history? That period when the Vikings spread their seed far and wide, even unto Greenland colonies (which then failed when the earth cooled a bit again). That period in which there was plenty to eat and mankind flourished more than before and after that warmth. Oh, and apparently mosquitoes, ticks, rodents and jellyfish flourished then too. Right?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Scientific" American has obviously totally succumbed to the Progressive (Marxist) disease most other bird-cage-liner media have fallen prey too. Just like them, SA won't be around too much longer, since now we have almost unlimited sources to discover the truth. Well, SA won't be around in printed form, in which case they become just one more web site amongst billions. No big loss. Nothing at all scientific anymore about Scientific American. And not really American anymore either. "The magazine whose title is two lies in one" would be quite the accurate masthead these days, I think.