Life in the oceans is packin’ up and movin’ out — looking for a new place that’s a lot like the old one. Marine life is also starting families a little earlier, and letting those summer vacations linger a little longer.
All of these changes appear to be the result of changes in Earth’s climate. As the planet gets warmer, many organisms are finding ways to adapt. That keeps their species alive, but it alters everything from feeding grounds to breeding seasons.
Overall, marine life is heading toward the poles, and breeding a little earlier. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationIn recent years, several studies have shown that fish, birds, and other animals are changing their migration patterns. They don’t head north as early for example, because winter arrives a little later.
A study in 2013 showed that, on the whole, marine life is moving toward the poles. The leading edge of this mass migration is advancing at a rate of about 45 miles per decade. The study also found that the average marine organism is breeding about four-and-a-half days earlier per decade — likely because traditional breeding grounds are warmer.
Another study showed that not all species are moving in the same direction. The study found that on a local or regional level, species keep pace with the speed and direction of warming waters — shifting location to find water that’s just the right temperature. Sometimes that’s toward the poles, but other times it’s along the same latitude, or even away from the poles. Whatever the direction, though, marine life is on the move —away from warmer ocean waters.
