Southern elephant seals have historically inhabited New Zealand beaches, facing threats from climate change and human activities. Recent research highlights their evolutionary adaptability and emphasizes the urgent need for climate action to protect these seals and the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Recent research suggests that southern elephant seals serve as indicators for the Southern Ocean, revealing potential responses of the ecosystem to climate change and human influence. Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, a senior author of the study from the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, noted that while these seals currently reside only in sub-Antarctic islands and South America, they once thrived along New Zealand’s beaches.
Professor Rawlence described the historical abundance of these seals, stating, “At the time of human arrival in New Zealand, you would be hard pressed to find room on the beaches.” He emphasized the contrast between this vibrant past and the current perceptions of New Zealand’s biodiversity.
The research team, comprising international scholars including Andrew Berg and Megan Askew, utilized palaeogenetic methods on ancient specimens to establish that southern elephant seals inhabited the entire Southern Ocean in the past. Findings were published in the journal Global Change Biology.
Dr. Mark de Bruyn from Griffith University highlighted that both climate change and human activities have substantially altered the distribution of these seals in a short evolutionary timeframe. He noted, “indigenous subsistence hunting and European industrial sealing resulted in the contraction of their range.”
Associate Professor Rawlence pointed out the critical importance of understanding these seals’ historical adaptability to forecast the implications of human-induced climate changes on them and the Southern Ocean ecosystem. He warned that without intervention, these species and their habitats could face severe challenges ahead.
The study, titled “Postglacial Recolonization of the Southern Ocean by Elephant Seals Occurred From Multiple Glacial Refugia,” is published in Global Change Biology. The research aligns with various UN Sustainable Development Goals, including sustainability in urban areas, responsible consumption, climate action, and marine life protection.
In summary, southern elephant seals, once abundant in New Zealand, exemplify the significant impact of climate change and human activities on marine life. The historical context provided by researchers illustrates the necessity for proactive measures to safeguard these species and their ecosystems. The findings underscore the pressing need for climate action and responsible environmental stewardship to preserve biodiversity in the Southern Ocean.
Original Source: news.griffith.edu.au
