US EditionSeal populations drastically dwindling as Antartic ice disappears
- A 2025 study based on nearly fifty years of monitoring on Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands reveals substantial declines in populations of three Antarctic seal species, highlighting the impact of changing environmental conditions on their survival.
- Decades of seal population monitoring since the 1970s, combined with satellite observations of sea ice starting in 1982, demonstrate a strong connection between variations in the timing, coverage, and persistence of sea ice and the fluctuations seen in these animal populations.
- The study examined Weddell, Antarctic fur, and southern elephant seals, finding steep declines of 54% and 47% in Weddell and fur seals over nearly 50 years, while elephant seals showed no overall decline.
- Lead author Michael Dunn noted the study offers a rare confirmation that shrinking sea ice and ecosystem shifts are causing these population changes using solid long-term data.
- These results highlight serious risks to the Antarctic food web and underscore the importance of multi-decadal ecological monitoring for forecasting future environmental impacts.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Seals study shows melting sea ice is shaping their future
A new study of Antarctic seals shows that environmental conditions are leading to a severe decline in their populations in the South Orkney Islands. New results are published today (Wednesday 18 June) in the journal Global Change Biology and show how seals depend on sea ice for their survival.
Ponding on the Ice Shelf
Glaciers flow together and march out to sea along the Amery Ice Shelf in this satellite image of Antarctica. Three glaciers — flowing from the top, left, and bottom of the image — meet just to the right of center and pass from the continental bedrock onto the ice-covered ocean. The ice shelf is recognizable by its plethora of meltwater ponds, which appear as bright blue areas. Each austral summer, meltwater gathers in low-lying regions on the ic…
Climate change, human activity behind mass deaths of rare seals: Kazakhstan
Almaty, Kazakhstan (AFP) June 13, 2025 Kazakhstan on Friday blamed human activity and climate change for the mass deaths of an endangered seal species in the Caspian Sea, the world's biggest inland body of water. Around 2,200 Caspian Seals - the only mammals that live in the Caspian Sea - have washed up dead on the shores of Kazakhstan since November 2024. Following tests, Kazakhstan's agriculture ministry said "chronic tox
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