The “warm blob,” a marine heat wave that occurred from 2014 to 2016, has led to the death of approximately 4 million common murres in Alaska, significantly impacting their population. Common murres, seabirds that resemble flying penguins, typically dive for fish and nest in large colonies along coastal areas. A recent study, involving cooperation with the University of Washington’s citizen science program, reported a shocking increase in murre deaths, particularly after the heat wave. While previous research noted a massive mortality event in 2020, this new study analyzed colony data spanning from 2008 to 2022, revealing a 50% reduction in murre numbers in the Gulf of Alaska and a staggering 75% decline in the eastern Bering Sea. The findings indicate that these seabirds have not recovered from the marine heat wave’s impacts due to changes in food availability rather than direct thermal stress. With climate change making such marine heat waves more frequent, experts warn of deteriorating conditions for seabird populations. Furthermore, the inability of common murres to rebound, even after several years, raises concerns about potential irreversible shifts in marine ecosystems and their inhabitants.
