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Seal populations drastically dwindling as Antartic ice disappears

ANTARCTICA, JUN 18 – Long-term research shows Weddell and Antarctic fur seal populations dropped by 54% and 47%, respectively, due to shrinking sea ice disrupting their habitat and food sources, researchers said.

  • Scientists conducting long-term monitoring on Signy Island have observed a significant decrease in the populations of Weddell and Antarctic fur seals since the 1970s.
  • The long-term decline, including a 54% drop in Weddell seals and 47% in fur seals, is linked to shrinking sea ice and changing marine food webs caused by climate change.
  • The study analyzed nearly five decades of annual seal counts alongside satellite sea ice data to validate how fluctuating ice conditions affected seal habitats and populations.
  • Michael Dunn, the lead author, highlighted that unlike previous studies which forecast how animals could be affected by diminishing sea ice and changing environmental conditions, this research uniquely validates those effects through comprehensive, long-term evidence.
  • These findings highlight the urgent need for continued ecological monitoring to understand climate change effects and suggest that Antarctic ecosystems face substantial risks ahead.
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Seal populations drastically dwindling as Antartic ice disappears

A new study shows that melting sea ice due to increasing temperatures is leading to a "concerning" and severe decline in their populations.

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Phys.org broke the news in United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
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