Ecology

Findings from Alaska Pacific University Advance Knowledge in Climate Change

  2012 JUL 6 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- Fresh data on Climate Change are presented in a new report. According to news originating from Anchorage, Alaska, by VerticalNews correspondents, researchers stated "Climate models predict a multi-degree warming of the North Atlantic in the 21st century. A research priority is to understand the effect of such changes upon marine organisms."

  Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research by the authors from Alaska Pacific University, "With 40 to 80 million individuals, planktivorous little auks Alle alle are an essential component of pelagic food webs in this region that is potentially highly susceptible to climatic effects. Using an integrative study of their behaviour, physiology and fitness at 3 study sites, we evaluated the effect of ocean warming on little auks across the Greenland Sea in 2005 to 2007. Contrary to our hypothesis, the birds responded to a wide range of sea surface temperatures via plasticity of their foraging behaviour, allowing them to maintain their fitness levels."

  According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: "Predicted effects of climate change are significantly attenuated by such plasticity, confounding attempts to forecast future effects of climate change using envelope models."

  For more information on this research see: Little auks buffer the impact of current Arctic climate change. Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 2012;454():197-206. Marine Ecology-Progress Series can be contacted at: Inter-Research, Nordbunte 23, D-21385 Oldendorf Luhe, Germany.

  The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from D. Gremillet, Alaska Pacific Univ, Dept. of Environm Sci, Anchorage, AK 99508, United States.

  Keywords for this news article include: Alaska, Ecology, Anchorage, United States, Climate Change, Global Warming, North and Central America

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