Scientific News  Ecology THE PROCESS OF THE FAUNA DEGRADATION HAS ALREADY STARTED WITH THE ARCTIC AREAS OF RUSSIA’S FAR EAST AND ALASKA
The
process of the fauna degradation has already started with the Arctic areas of
Russia’s Far East and Alaska
The Aleutians and Eskimos,
catching fish in the Bering Sea over thousands of years, began noticing the
first signs of dramatic changes in the nature. Population of sea lions has
shrunk: only few sea lions, enjoying themselves in the waters of a basin
stretching between Russia and Alaska, managed to survive.
 Over
the 1970s, biomass resources of this area dropped by appr. 80 per cent. This
negative trend is also true for sea dogs, polar bears and various types of sea
birds as well. Nobody can name the exact reason of the changes.
Nevertheless, some conclusions on
possible reasons initiated the said nature degradation have been made. It’s
considered that the Bering Sea and the neighboring Gulf of Alaska stand behind
the changes. Almost a half of fish shoals comes to the US waters from that area.
Disclosed research data show that
global climate warming, spreading on the planet, cut food ration of sea
inhabitants and sea birds.
After a sudden change in the
Earth climate in 1977, when water temperature in these areas in the winter
exceeded the typical value by 2° C and changes in the regular behavior of the
sea animals, established over the years, began. While crab population
practically didn’t change, population of mallotus villosus (a large fish) and
cods was badly hit.
 This temperature growth was
likely a major factor that reduced number of sea lions and sea birds. To reach
the population level of 1977, sea birds have practically double their fish
ration. Yet the amount of fish available now is not sufficient to feed birds
living today.
Sea otters are likely another
indirect reason of the climate change: 45,000 sea otters, having lived along the
Aleutian Islands shore, separating the Bering Sea from the Pacific Ocean,
disappeared in a short-term period. Urchins, being saved from their hunters, sea
otters, began rapidly breeding; they ate not numerous plants, growing offshore,
which used to be a food for fish.
No food for fish, no fish.
Nobody can predict the scenario
of further region ecosystem development which might initiate consequent chain
reaction in the entire planet ecosystem.
Publishing date: October 19, 2000
Back
| 
