A large international team of researchers used complex models to look at how sperm whales and blue whales would behave in different climate scenarios around New Zealand in the year 2100.
What they saw was that both species moved south. The warmer the ocean, the further south you go. The most extreme climate scenario tested was the one in which 61 percent of the animals’ current habitat was lost – in waters north of New Zealand. But even under the most favorable scenario, significant changes were seen in the animals’ behaviour.
Aside from the effects on the animals themselves, this also affects the local economy. If all the whales are moving out of the water around the coast, many of the companies that make money from whale watching boat trips can pack their bags.
But animals also have a huge impact on ecosystems. For example, they ensure that nutrients from the deep sea reach the surface and diffuse. This will also change if the whales stop coming somewhere.
The research also showed places in the region that might be very suitable as a haven in the warming sea water. Knowing the right water can help protect these areas.
Read more: Climate change predicts a southern shift of New Zealand’s large whale species.
