Most Popular Posts
Categories
- Biodiversity (45)
- Climate change (137)
- Community-based conservation (45)
- Economics and conservation (113)
- Endangered species (185)
- Fresh water (41)
- Habitat (158)
- Invasive species (76)
- Marine (103)
- Monitoring (198)
- Restoration (133)
- Socio-political issues (148)
- Tools and technology (91)
Archives
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- April 2009
- January 2009
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
Sep
10
2007
Eastern gray whales haven’t recovered yet, genetic data suggest
Pacific gray whale Eschrichtius robustus populations are only a quarter to a half of their size before whaling began in earnest, according to a study based on detailed genetic analysis. Writing in PNAS, Stanford University’s Elizabeth Alter and colleagues say their estimate of the historical head count, centered on an average of 96400 animals, dwarfs the current population census-based figure of 18000-29000 eastern gray whales (the tiny western population remains critically endangered; the Atlantic population is long extinct). The findings, which reach back in time through the DNA variation seen today, undermine claims that the eastern population has fully recovered. Although there might never be so many gray whales again – climate change is reducing the amount of habitat available – they have a long way to go before they start getting crowded. Best leave the harpoon at home for now. Source: Alter SE, Rynes E & Palumbi SR (2007) DNA evidence for historic population size and past ecosystem impacts of gray whales. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706056104
Image © Martyn Unsworth
Filed Under Climate change, Endangered species, Marine, Monitoring, Restoration, Socio-political issues, Tools and technology |
Email This Post
Why is it that the blame these days for the demise of animals on this planet is always the enviroment changing, no one comes right out and says that man has screwed up their environment because their are too many of us and were crowding out every other species?