The Dramatic Effect of El Nino on Southern Californias Seal and Sea Lion Population :: Animals Nature Environment essays Climate

At the beginning of our winter oceanson, El Nino leftover field some dramatic effects on our seal and sea lion population here in federationern California. Since June of 1997, around 6,000 sea mammals encounter perished on this San Miguel Island, 50 miles off the Ventura sea-coast. This island is home to the largest population of seals and sea lions reciprocal ohm of Alaska. Scientists estimate that there are approximately between 85,000 and 180,000 California sea lions breeding on this island and other Channel Islands. in that respect are about 11,000 Northern Fur Seals on San Miguel Island. The adult sea lions go to blue California and British Columbia after they breed, while the pups are left behind around the central coast. In one of the most somatogenetic demonstrations of El Nino, oceanic warming drove away much of their sustenance supply squid, anchovies, herring, and sardines. The pups are spending most of their energy in research of colder waters for their dail y intake of 30 pounds of food. Experts in marine biota are strictly observing and documenting the famine, not attempting to rescue the dying animals. They amaze been conducting studies on this island since the 1960s. Several rescue groups, such as Sea human being located in San Diego, were ready to bring back the starving pups. However, the 1972 maritime Mammal Protection Act prohibits them from going to the remote island and disturbing their raw(a) habitat. Experts would rather wait for the mammals to get washed up ashore than to signalize a pup from its mother. The goal is to minimize human impacts. Scientists are straight off trying to learn from the mistakes they made when studying the effects of the 1983 El Nino. There was a research project conducted on the marine ecosystem at the Punta San Juan de Marcona sea lion reserve, a remote point of land on the coast about three hundred miles south of Lima, Peru. The project consisted of an in-depth study of the sea lion and the ecosystem it inhabits it focused primarily on the behavior of more than 15 thousand sea lions, the largest sea lion colony in the South American Pacific. Documenting the sea lions living traits for over 10 years, the biologists are withal observing behavioral changes produced by El Nino, the same Pacific watercourse that altered oceanic conditions. When El Nino dampens the point in warmer water, the sea lions prey swims deeper. Consequently, the pups remain with their mothers longer, until they are able to dive themselves to hunt for food.