Page 16 - Gateways_2020_SPRING
P. 16
Above: California sea lion Carolyn
Right: Carolyn and Sabiena receive small fish
from CZS animal care specialists Mark Gonka and
Andy Ferris
Warming Ocean trapped by greenhouse gases that blanket the planet,
according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Carolyn and Sabiena were one year old when they Change. In addition to this general ocean warming,
stranded on separate beaches. “Stranding means vast areas of the Pacific have been affected by El Niño
not thriving in their environment—animals are weather conditions and increasingly frequent marine
found injured, emaciated, or both,” said Stacey. heat waves—events in which the ocean temperature
Carolyn weighed 46 pounds and Sabiena weighed remains elevated for an extended period of time.
only 31 pounds; the weight of a healthy sea lion
yearling is about 100 pounds. From 2014 to 2016, a marine heat wave nick-
named “the Blob” wreaked havoc along North Amer-
Sea lion strandings are not unusual. What ica’s Pacific Coast. The Blob was 1,000 miles wide,
has been unusual, however, are the large spikes 300 feet deep, and stretched from Alaska to Mexico.
in the number of reported strandings since 2013. Raising ocean temperature as much as 7 degrees
For example, in the first half of 2015, the number Fahrenheit above normal, the Blob disrupted the
of strandings was four times higher than normal. ocean ecosystem, killed thousands of marine mam-
Scientists have also found numerous dead and mals, and temporarily shut down fisheries causing
underweight pups on the offshore island rookeries millions of dollars in losses. In 2019 another monster
where they spend their first months being nursed marine heat wave appeared in the same spot.
by their mothers.
California sea lions mostly feed in coastal waters
Scientists believe California sea lions are being where they hunt for squid, rockfish, and high-fat fish
impacted by unprecedented changes in their ocean such as sardines and anchovies. “A warming ocean is
habitat, including elevated water temperature. driving prey items farther from shore,” said Stacey.
During the past 50 years, the ocean has absorbed
93 percent of the excess heat on Earth—heat
16 GATEWAYS | MESSENGERS
