The cause of the mass crab death in the Bering Sea has been named
[ad_1]
Marine biologists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have revealed why an estimated 10 billion snow crabs have disappeared from the Bering Sea. It is noted that the water has become too warm for them. Science magazine writes about this.
A sudden decline in the number of these animals was noticeable back in 2021, and the complete disappearance of the species was observed only at the beginning of 2023. No traces of crabs could be found in the surrounding areas.
The analysts applied data from previous studies on snow crabs’ responses to warmer temperatures. It is noted that before and during the pestilence, a wave of rising temperatures was observed in the area. It is known that when water temperatures increase, crabs’ energy needs become higher.
During the heat wave, water temperatures rose by 3 degrees Celsius, meaning the animals would need twice as much food to survive. Shortly before the heat wave began, the crab population exploded, causing competition for food to increase significantly. In other words, scientists summarize, the disappearance of animals is associated with hunger.
[ad_2]
Source link
