Study: Increase in Pacific Ocean ‘marine heat waves’ threaten seabirds
Marine heat waves — such as the notorious “blob” that wreaked havoc on the Pacific Ocean’s ecosystems — are becoming more frequent and intense, resulting in the deaths of millions of seabirds along the Pacific coast, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Marine Ecology Progress Series scientific journal this month, analyzed data from more than 90,000 citizen science surveys of seabird carcasses. The surveys took place from 1993 to 2021 on beaches from northern California, including Marin County, up through Alaska. Parrish said a notable finding in the study is the delayed impacts that these heat waves have on seabird populations. A marine heat wave resulted in an initial die-off of birds within the first six months followed by another die-off in 10 to 16 months, Parrish said.
Study coauthor Jan Roletto, a research coordinator with the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, said the federal government has been collecting data on seabird carcasses and other information on beaches spanning from Mendocino County down to San Mateo County since 1993. The reason behind this, she said, is the local ocean topography and winds help to mix the waters even if there is warm water or during El Niño events. The productive waters are what attract so many sea birds to the Bay Area, which is home to the largest seabird breeding colony in the lower 48 states on the Farallon Islands, located about 20 miles west of the Golden Gate.
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