UK: Snow crab collapse due to ecological shift in the Bering Sea

Published 2024년 9월 13일

Tridge summary

NOAA Fisheries scientists have linked the drastic decline of snow crab populations in Alaska to borealization, an ecological shift from Arctic to sub-Arctic conditions in the southeastern Bering Sea due to human-caused climate change. This shift has made the environment less suitable for cold-adapted species like snow crab, favoring warm-adapted species instead. The snow crab population saw a dramatic decline of over 90% between 2018 and 2019 due to insufficient prey in warmer waters. However, cooler water temperatures in 2022 provided some relief. A recent survey observed an increased number of juvenile snow crabs, offering hope for a short-term recovery within about five years. Scientists emphasize the need for adaptation to these rapid changes and introduce a borealization index to help assess impacts on various species, providing a new framework for ecosystem managers and fisheries stakeholders.

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Original content

Snow crab collapse due to ecological shift in the Bering Sea NOAA Fisheries scientists attribute the abrupt collapse of snow crab in Alaska to borealization, or an ecological shift from Arctic to sub-Arctic conditions in the southeastern Bering Sea due to human-caused climate change. Cold-adapted species like snow crab are well suited to Arctic conditions. However, when borealization occurs, the ecosystem shifts to subarctic conditions that are less conducive to snow crab survival. Instead, they favor warm-adapted species and temperature marine ecosystems. “What is particularly noteworthy is these boreal conditions associated with the snow crab collapse are more than 200 times likely to occur in the present climate (1.0° –1.5° of warming rate) than in the preindustrial era,” said Mike Litzow, lead author and director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Kodiak Lab. “Even more concerning is that Arctic conditions conducive for snow crabs to retain their dominant role in the ...

Source: Fish Focus